Season of birth in psychiatry. A review.
Numerous studies suggest that seasonal birth may play a pathogenic role in the development of mental disorders. A birth excess of 10% during winter and spring has been shown in schizophrenia. The few studies carried out on affective disorders revealed a significant increase of births in the first quarter of the year in bipolar disorders and major depressive disorder. Subjects with seasonal affective disorder show a peak of births in May. Data on personality, eating and 'neurotic' disorders are less consistent. At the moment there are no data in the literature about anxiety disorders.
Castrogiovanni
P
P
Department of Psychiatry, University of Siena, Italy.
Iapichino
S
S
Pacchierotti
C
C
Pieraccini
F
F
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004777:Environment; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010507:Periodicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012621:Seasons; D012725:Sexual Behavior