Early developmental milestones in adult schizophrenia and other psychoses. A 31-year follow-up of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort.
Delayed childhood development may precede adult psychoses. We tested this hypothesis in a large, general population birth cohort (n=12058) followed to age 31 years. The ages at which individuals learned to stand, walk, speak, and became potty-trained (bowel control) and dry (bladder control), were recorded at a 1-year examination. Psychiatric outcome was ascertained through linkage to a national hospital discharge register. Cumulative incidence of DSM-III-R schizophrenia, other psychoses and non-psychotic disorders were stratified according to the timing of milestones and compared within the cohort using internal standardization. 100 cases of DSM-III-R schizophrenia, 55 other psychoses, and 315 non-psychotic disorders were identified. The ages at learning to stand, walk and become potty-trained were each related to subsequent incidence of schizophrenia and other psychoses. Compared with the whole cohort, earlier milestones reduced, and later milestones increased, the risk in a linear manner. These developmental effects were not seen for non-psychotic outcomes. The findings support hypotheses regarding psychosis as having a developmental dimension with precursors apparent in early life.
Isohanni
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, PL5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland. matti.isohanni@oulu.fi
Jones
P B
PB
Moilanen
K
K
Rantakallio
P
P
Veijola
J
J
Oja
H
H
Koiranen
M
M
Jokelainen
J
J
Croudace
T
T
Järvelin
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology