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Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
Childhood adversity in schizophrenia: a systematic meta-analysis.
S L Matheson1, A M Shepherd, R M Pinchbeck
1Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia. s.matheson@schizophreniaresearch.org.au
Psychological Medicine
|June 22, 2012
Summary
Childhood adversity is significantly linked to schizophrenia, with higher rates observed compared to general populations and anxiety disorders. However, no differences were found with affective disorders, depression, or personality disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Childhood adversity is a suspected risk factor for schizophrenia.
- Existing evidence is inconsistent and controversial.
- A comprehensive quality assessment of current evidence is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pool and assess the quality of evidence on childhood adversity in schizophrenia.
- To compare childhood adversity rates in schizophrenia against other psychiatric disorders and non-psychiatric controls.
- To evaluate the specificity of childhood adversity for schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies.
- Searched Medline, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases.
- Assessed study reporting using STROBE checklist and evidence quality using GRADE approach.
Main Results:
- Twenty-five studies met inclusion criteria.
- Moderate to high quality evidence shows increased childhood adversity in schizophrenia versus controls (OR 3.60).
- Schizophrenia showed higher adversity than anxiety disorders, but not affective psychosis, depression, or personality disorders; lower rates were found versus dissociative disorders and PTSD.
Conclusions:
- This meta-analysis confirms a medium to large effect of childhood adversity in schizophrenia.
- It is the first to assess the specificity of this association.
- Future research should use longitudinal designs to explore additive/interactive effects.
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