Obstetrical complications and childhood-onset schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
Increased obstetrical complications have been reported in individuals with adult-onset schizophrenia, with several studies finding an association between such complications and an earlier age at onset. Consequently, obstetrical records were examined for individuals with childhood-onset schizophrenia to determine if birth complications were more prevalent.


METHODS
The birth records of 36 patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia and 35 sibling comparison subjects were rated for birth complications by two psychiatrists who were unaware of group membership.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the groups in rates of obstetrical complications. Patients with such complications did not have a relatively earlier age at onset of schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
A very early age at onset of schizophrenia is probably not due to birth complications.
Nicolson
R
R
Child Psychiatry Branch, NIMH, Bethesda, Md. 20892-1600, USA. rn54q@nih.gov
Malaspina
D
D
Giedd
J N
JN
Hamburger
S
S
Lenane
M
M
Bedwell
J
J
Fernandez
T
T
Berman
A
A
Susser
E
E
Rapoport
J L
JL
D017668:Age of Onset; D015897:Comorbidity; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors