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Season of birth and obstetrical complications in schizophrenics
D K Kinney1, D L Levy, D A Yurgelun-Todd
1Laboratories for Psychiatric Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178.
Insights
Obstetrical complications (OCs) and winter birth are schizophrenia risk factors. OCs increased schizophrenia risk, with their impact potentially modified by season of birth.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Obstetrical complications (OCs) and season of birth (winter/early spring) are independently linked to increased schizophrenia risk.
- The interplay between OCs and birth season as risk factors for schizophrenia remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effects of obstetrical complications and season of birth on schizophrenia risk.
- To determine if OCs covary with season of birth in individuals with schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective assessment of pre- and perinatal OCs in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and their unaffected siblings.
- Medical data for OCs were collected blindly to diagnosis.
- Subjects included 29 probands with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and 39 unaffected adult siblings.
Main Results:
- Both prenatal and perinatal OCs were significantly more prevalent in probands compared to their siblings.
- Individuals with schizophrenia born outside of winter/early spring showed higher rates of total and perinatal OCs.
- No significant difference in prenatal OCs was observed based on birth month in the schizophrenia group.
Conclusions:
- Obstetrical complications are confirmed as a significant risk factor for schizophrenia.
- The findings suggest that the influence of OCs on schizophrenia risk may be modulated by the season of birth.
Abstract:
Many studies indicate that both obstetrical complications (OCs) and birth in winter or early spring are risk factors for schizophrenia, but few studies have examined how these risk factors covary in the same subjects. We assessed pre- and perinatal OCs, while blind to diagnosis, using medical data recorded at the time of subjects' births, in 29 probands with DSM-III schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 39 of their unaffected adult sibs. Pre- and perinatal OCs were both significantly more common in probands than sibs. Schizophrenics not born during the winter or early spring had significantly more total and perinatal OCs than schizophrenics born in other months, but did not differ for prenatal OCs. Results indicate that OCs increase risk for schizophrenia, but also suggest the possibility that the impact of OCs on this risk may be affected by season of birth.