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Is head injury a risk factor for schizophrenia?
A S Nielsen1, P B Mortensen, E O'Callaghan
1Department of Psychiatric Demography, Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Psychiatric Hospital in Aarhus, Skovagervej 2, 8240 Risskov, Denmark.
Schizophrenia Research
|April 17, 2002
Summary
Head injury may contribute to schizophrenia risk in males, but not females. This study adjusted for general accident proneness, finding a link between head trauma and schizophrenia in men.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous studies on head injury as a schizophrenia risk factor have methodological limitations.
- Understanding the relationship between traumatic brain injury and schizophrenia is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between head injury and the risk of developing schizophrenia.
- To address methodological issues in prior research by controlling for general accident proneness.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 8288 individuals with schizophrenia and 82880 matched controls.
- Head injury defined by hospitalization for concussion or severe head injury.
- Controlled for general accident proneness by comparing rates of non-head/spine fractures.
Main Results:
- Males with schizophrenia showed reduced concussion risk initially, but increased risk after adjusting for other fractures.
- Females with schizophrenia showed increased concussion risk, but no significant association after adjustment.
- Adjusted analysis revealed a significantly increased risk of both concussion and severe head injury for males with schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- Head injury may be a contributing risk factor for schizophrenia in a subset of males.
- The association in females is less clear and may be confounded by general trauma liability.
- Premorbid accident proneness must be considered in studies of head injury and schizophrenia risk.