Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2026
Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
The association between obstetric complications and childhood-onset schizophrenia: a replication study
H Matsumoto1, N Takei, F Saito
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan.
Insights
Obstetric complications (OCs) at birth are linked to a higher risk of developing childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS). This study replicated findings, showing OCs increase schizophrenia likelihood by 3.2 times in children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Adult-onset schizophrenia is associated with obstetric complications (OCs).
- The role of OCs in childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) is less understood.
- Previous research indicated a link between OCs and COS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate the association between OCs and COS in an independent patient cohort.
- To investigate the specific impact of OCs on the development of schizophrenia in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective assessment of OCs, birth weight, and gestational age in 35 children with COS (ages 14-15).
- Comparison with age- and gender-matched controls diagnosed with anxiety disorders.
- Utilized the Parnas et al. scale to measure OCs.
Main Results:
- COS patients exhibited significantly higher OCs scores than controls.
- Individuals with OCs were 3.2 times more likely to develop schizophrenia (OR=3.22).
- COS patients had lower mean birth weight and higher rates of prematurity.
Conclusions:
- The association between OCs and schizophrenia is confirmed in childhood-onset cases.
- Findings suggest a potential continuity between childhood- and adult-onset schizophrenia.
- OCs represent a significant risk factor for developing COS.
Background:
Many previous studies have shown that individuals who develop schizophrenia in adult life are more likely than normal controls to have a history of obstetric complications (OCs) at birth. However, little attention has been paid to the involvement of OCs in the risk of developing childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS). In our earlier report, we found an association between OCs and the development of COS. In this study, we determined whether the association could be replicated in another, independent set of patients with COS.
Methods:
OCs, birth weight and gestational age were retrospectively assessed in 35 children, aged between 14 and 15 years old (average 15.4 years), who met the DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia, and in age- and gender-matched controls (children with anxiety disorders).
Results:
The COS patients showed significantly greater scores in all of the three measures of OCs according to the Parnas et al. scale compared to controls. Moreover, individuals exposed to OCs were about 3.2 times (odds ratio = 3.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-9.8) more likely to develop schizophrenia than those without a history of OCs. The mean birth weight was significantly lower in schizophrenics than in controls (P < 005). The frequency of prematurity signs with weight < 2500 g was significantly higher in schizophrenics than in controls (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Repeatedly reported association between OCs and adult-onset schizophrenia have also been demonstrated in patients with COS. This suggests that there may be a continuity between childhood- and adult-onset schizophrenia.
More Related Videos
09:09Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using Poly(I:C) to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring
Published on: August 17, 2022
05:51A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia
Published on: June 15, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:17Schizophrenia