title: Schizophrenia following pre-natal exposure to influenza epidemics between 1939 and 1960.
abstract: We examined the relationship between the dates of births of schizophrenic patients admitted to hospitals for the first time in England and Wales between 1970 and 1979, and the occurrence of influenza epidemics between 1939 and 1960. Our results indicate that exposure to influenza epidemics between the third and seventh month of gestation is associated with schizophrenia in adult life. The hypothesis that maternal viral infection is an important cause of schizophrenia can explain many aspects of the enigmatic epidemiology of the condition.
authors.affiliation: Genetics Section, Institute of Psychiatry, London.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sham
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takei
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009980:Influenza A virus; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology