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Advanced paternal age increases the risk of schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder in a Chinese Han

Yuejing Wu1, Xiang Liu, Hongrong Luo

  • 1The Mental Health Center and the Psychiatric Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.

Psychiatry Research
|March 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Advanced paternal age significantly increases the risk of schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in offspring. This risk is most pronounced when fathers are over 35 years old.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry and Genetics
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • Advanced paternal age is a growing concern in reproductive health.
  • Potential links between parental age and offspring mental health disorders require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between advanced paternal age and the risk of schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a Chinese Han population.
  • To explore potential sex-specific risks and interactions with maternal age.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-P/NP) for diagnosis.
  • Analyzed data from 351 schizophrenia patients, 122 OCD patients, and 238 healthy controls.
  • Employed logistic regression analyses, adjusting for covariates like sex and co-parent age.

Main Results:

  • Relative risks for schizophrenia and OCD increased significantly with paternal age, particularly above 35.
  • No significant association was found between advanced maternal age and these disorders.
  • Interaction effects between paternal and maternal age were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Advanced paternal age is a notable risk factor for schizophrenia and OCD in the studied population.
  • Findings suggest biological and non-biological mechanisms may contribute to these risks.
  • The study highlights the importance of paternal age in offspring mental health outcomes.

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