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Related Experiment Videos

Fluctuations in schizophrenic births by year

E F Torrey1, R R Rawlings

  • 1National Institute of Mental Health, Neuroscience Center at St Elizabeths, Washington, DC 20032, USA.

The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|December 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

This study found no significant yearly variations in schizophrenia births, failing to replicate previous findings. Environmental theories linking birth year to schizophrenia risk are not supported by this analysis.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Previous research suggested that the birth year of individuals later diagnosed with schizophrenia might show variations.
  • These variations have been linked to potential environmental factors during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether yearly birth fluctuations in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia are statistically significant.
  • To assess the replicability of earlier findings using a different statistical methodology.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of birth data for 34,024 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated types).
  • Application of time series analysis to examine yearly birth patterns.

Main Results:

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  • Observed minor yearly fluctuations in births did not reach statistical significance.
  • The study could not replicate previously reported significant yearly variations in schizophrenia births.

Conclusions:

  • Findings do not support theories positing major yearly fluctuations in schizophrenia births.
  • The results challenge environmental theories, such as those involving influenza, temperature, or severe weather during the perinatal period.