Autonomic imbalance has been proposed as a heritable endophenotype in schizophrenia.
Resting-state autonomic imbalance was only found in patients but not relatives.
Deep breathing induced an increase in parasympathetic activity in healthy controls.
Both patients and relatives showed diminished vagal reactivity to deep breathing.
This pattern of autonomic imbalance may be heritable and familial in schizophrenia.