Obstetric complications in siblings of Japanese schizophrenics: data from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook.

Although the precise etiology of schizophrenia remains unknown, the development of schizophrenia has been associated with a history of obstetric complication (OC). Furthermore, some studies show structural and functional brain abnormalities in the unaffected siblings of schizophrenics. In this study the perinatal histories of 18 unaffected siblings of schizophrenics and 15 unrelated healthy controls, as detailed in their mothers' Maternal and Child Health Handbook records, were retrospectively analyzed. Records were scored for obstetric complication by the method developed by [Parnas, J., Schulsinger, F., Teasdale, T.W., Shulsinger, H., Feldman, P.M., Mednick, S.A., 1982. Perinatal complications and clinical outcome within the schizophrenia spectrum. Br. J. Psychiatry 140, 416-420]. The authors found the sibling group had greater pregnancy and birth complication (PBC) frequency, severity and total scores than the control population.

Ohara K ，Tanabu S ，Yoshida K ，Sato Y ，Shibuya H ... -  《PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY》

[Familial occurrence and obstetric complications in siblings discordant for schizophrenia].

Obstetric complications seem to play a relevant role in the development of schizophrenia. This study aimed to assess whether not only frequency but also severity of obstetric complications was different in schizophrenic patients when compared with their healthy siblings. Furthermore, we examined whether a family history positive for schizophrenia was related to an increased frequency or severity of obstetric complications in healthy siblings. Frequency and severity of obstetric complications were evaluated in 76 subjects (30 schizophrenics and 46 siblings). The diagnosis of schizophrenia were made according to DSM III-R. Mothers were interviewed to gather data about obstetric complications and the "midwife protocol" by Parnas et al. (1982) was used to quantify presence and entity of obstetric complications. Information regarding family history were collected from mothers. We used the method of segregation analysis to test the mode of inheritance. Complicated births were more frequently found in schizophrenics independently from a family history positive for schizophrenia or schizophrenia related personality disorders and obstetric complications were more severe in schizophrenics with respect to siblings. Obstetric complications occurred more frequently among schizophrenics without genetic risk; the same result was not found in healthy sibs. Our findings show that obstetric complications would play a major role in patients especially if they show a negative family history for schizophrenia. Moreover, a family history positive for schizophrenia or schizophrenia related personality disorder seems not to augment the frequency or severity of obstetric complications in healthy sibs.

Bersani G ，Taddei I ，Venturi P ，Pancheri P ... -  《-》

Perinatal complications and schizophrenia. Data from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook in Japan.

Kunugi H ，Nanko S ，Takei N ，Saito K ，Murray RM ，Hirose T ... -  《JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE》

[Obstetrical complications and schizophrenia. Comparative study of obstetric antecedents in schizophrenic and bipolar patients].

Information on pregnancy and birth complications was recorded for 46 patients with DSM III-R schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The biological mothers of the patients were interviewed personally to obtain obstetric information. There were no significant differences between schizophrenic and bipolar patients in age at the assessment, distribution of sex, paternal social class, age of the mother at birth, and birth order. Biological mothers of schizophrenics had more often than mothers of bipolar patients an history of miscarriage, but this trend failed to reach statistical significance. Pregnancy complications and birth weight were not significantly different between schizophrenic and bipolar patients. Birth complications were scored according to the method described by Parnas et al. (1982). Three scores were obtained for each patient: a frequency score, a severity score, and a total score. All the scores were significantly higher in the schizophrenic than in the bipolar group (frequency score p < 0.011; severity score p < 0.015; total score p < 0.01). Surprisingly, birth complications were more severe in female than in male schizophrenics (p < 0.017). The two groups of patients could not be differentiated by specific birth complication. The schizophrenic patients with a history of birth complication and those without such an history did not differ in age at onset, age at first hospitalization, family history of schizophrenic or non-affective psychotic disorder, neuroleptic resistance, and type of schizophrenia. Because of the small number of subjects in each group a type II error cannot be excluded for these negative results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Verdoux H ，Bourgeois M 《ENCEPHALE-REVUE DE PSYCHIATRIE CLINIQUE BIOLOGIQUE ET THERAPEUTIQUE》

Gastric suction at birth associated with long-term risk for functional intestinal disorders in later life.

Anand KJ ，Runeson B ，Jacobson B 《JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS》