Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
[Obstetric complications and early-onset schizophrenia: a case-control study]
Ignazio Ardizzone1, Arianna Marconi, Francesca Nardecchia
1II divisione, Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Psichiatriche e Riabilitative dell'Età Evolutiva, Sapienza Università di Roma. ignazio.ardizzone@fastwebnet.it
Rivista Di Psichiatria
|January 14, 2010
Summary
Obstetric complications, particularly those with brain-damaging potential, are linked to a higher risk of schizophrenia in adolescents. These complications may also influence the age of schizophrenia onset.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with multifactorial etiology.
- Previous research suggests a potential link between prenatal and perinatal factors and schizophrenia risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between obstetric complications and schizophrenia in adolescents.
- To explore if obstetric adversity influences the age of schizophrenia onset.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of obstetric birth case-notes.
- Schizophrenia patients (cases) were compared to healthy, age-matched controls.
- Utilized the McNeil-Sjöström Scale to assess complication severity.
Main Results:
- Obstetric complications with significant brain-damaging potential (Level > 4) were more frequent in schizophrenia cases (7%) than controls (2%).
- This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.04) with an odds ratio of 4.
- Obstetric adversity showed an independent influence on the age at first presentation of schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- Brain damage from obstetric complications may be an antecedent factor in schizophrenia development.
- Obstetric adversity appears to independently affect the age of schizophrenia onset.
- Findings suggest a potential causal relationship, though sample size limits definitive conclusions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
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...
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...
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...