Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025
Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic PolyI:C
Published on: March 25, 2016
Complex chronic conditions among children born to women with schizophrenia
A Toufeili1, E Cohen2, J G Ray3
1Dept. of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Children born to mothers with schizophrenia have an increased risk of developing complex chronic conditions (CCCs). This highlights the need for early intervention and support for these families.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatric Health
- Psychiatric Epidemiology
Background:
- Maternal schizophrenia is associated with perinatal complications.
- The long-term risk of complex chronic conditions (CCCs) in offspring of mothers with schizophrenia is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal schizophrenia and the future risk of complex chronic conditions (CCCs) in children.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada (1995-2018) compared CCC risk in 5,066 children of mothers with schizophrenia versus 2,939,320 unexposed children.
- Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were calculated for overall CCC occurrence, by CCC category, and stratified by child sex and prematurity.
Main Results:
- Children of mothers with schizophrenia had a higher incidence of CCCs (7.7 per 1000 person-years) compared to unexposed children (4.2 per 1000 person-years), with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.25.
- Elevated risks were observed in specific CCC categories including neuromuscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, hematology/immunodeficiency, and congenital/genetic defects.
- The increased risk was more pronounced in boys and similar in both term and preterm infants.
Conclusions:
- Children born to mothers with schizophrenia face a higher risk of developing complex chronic conditions (CCCs).
- Findings support targeted preconception counseling and interventions for this vulnerable population.
- Early identification and support are crucial for families managing children with CCCs.
Purpose:
Maternal schizophrenia is linked to complications in offspring near the time of birth. Whether there is also a higher future risk of the child having a complex chronic condition (CCC) - a pediatric condition affecting any bodily system expected to last at least 12 months that is severe enough to require specialty care and/or a period of hospitalization - is not known.
Methods:
In this population-based health administrative data cohort study (Ontario, Canada, 1995-2018), the risk for CCC was compared in 5066 children of women with schizophrenia (the exposed) vs. 2,939,320 unexposed children. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were generated for occurrence of any CCC, by CCC category, and stratified by child sex, and child prematurity.
Results:
CCC was more frequent in the exposed (7.7 per 1000 person-years [268 children]) than unexposed (4.2 per 100 person-years [124,452 children]) - an aHR of 1.25 (95% CI 1.10-1.41). aHRs were notably higher in 5 of 9 CCC categories: neuromuscular (1.73, 1.28-2.33), cardiovascular (1.94, 1.64-2.29), respiratory (1.83, 1.32-2.54), hematology/immunodeficiency (2.24, 1.24-4.05) and other congenital or genetic defect (1.59, 1.16-2.17). The aHR for CCC was more pronounced among boys (1.32, 1.13-1.55) than girls (1.16, 0.96-1.40), and of similar magnitude in term (1.22, 1.05-1.42) and preterm infants (1.18, 0.95-1.46).
Conclusions:
The risk for a CCC appears to be higher in children born to women with schizophrenia. This finding introduces opportunities for targeted preconception counselling, optimization of maternal risk factors, and intervention to support a vulnerable parent population who will experience unique challenges caring for a child with CCCs.
More Related Videos
09:09Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using PolyI:C to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring
Published on: August 17, 2022
05:44Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
Published on: May 17, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
01:17Schizophrenia
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
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...
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...