Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, determined in 102 patients with chronic schizophrenia, 223 first-degree relatives, and 88 normal control subjects, was shown to be a heritable and stable trait and was significantly lower in patients than in normal control subjects. Within families, MAO activity distinguished ill from well relatives. However, the considerable overlap in enzyme activity between affected and unaffected individuals limits the usefulness of low MAO activity as a major risk factor in schizophrenia.