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On the mental health issue, multiple personality disorder generally results from a case of severe abuse, usually sexual (if I remember everything correctly), making it "environmentally" caused. Schizophrenia, I believe, can be inherited, but cannot be caused simply by environment. Also, MPD I think is treated with behavioral therapy, while schizophrenia is primarily managed by medication. Unfortunately, many schizophrenics have difficulty staying on the medications, I believe due to side effects or the fact that when they are on medication, they quit believing that they have a problem and therefore don't see the need to take the medication. Then violent behavior may erupt.
No major genetic or other defects in our family. I'd never heard of Goldenhar syndrome before, but there are a lot of different things that can happen either as a result of genetic mutations or in this case as a result of problems during embryo development.
And for an interesting aside, I just read a book on morning sickness (entitled "Pregnancy Sickness") written by a biologist, who suggests that morning sickness is hugely useful to propagation of the species, in that its purpose is to protect the embryo from toxins in vegetables and bacterial spoilage in meat. During the first 12 weeks past conception is when the embryo develops all its organs and systems, and if too many toxins are consumed, defects will occur. The food aversions, sensitized sense of smell, and nausea that pregnant women experience in the first trimester serve the purpose of actually stopping them from eating vegetables or meats, which hold toxins for the embryo. It was a fascinating book. Margie Proffet, I think, was the author.
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