Association between prenatal exposure to analgesics and risk of schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Disturbances in the central nervous system originating during foetal life may increase the risk of schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
To illuminate the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to analgesics may affect foetal neurodevelopment, leading to increased risk of schizophrenia in adulthood.


METHODS
Using data from the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort and from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register, we studied the relationship between prenatal exposure to analgesics and the risk of schizophrenia. The effect of prenatal exposure was adjusted for parental history of schizophrenia, second-trimester viral infections, concomitant drug treatment during pregnancy, an index of pregnancy complications, parental social status and parental age.


RESULTS
In a risk set of 7999 individuals, 116 cases of schizophrenia were found (1.5%). Prenatal exposure to analgesics in the second trimester was associated with an elevated risk (adjusted odds ratio 4.75, 95% CI1.9-12.0). Independent of the covariates, the effect remained statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Independent of a wide range of possible confounders, a significant association between second-trimester exposure to analgesics and increased risk of schizophrenia was observed.
Sørensen
Holger J
HJ
Department of Health Psychology, Copenhagen University, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
Mortensen
Erik L
EL
Reinisch
June M
JM
Mednick
Sarnoff A
SA
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology*
D000700:Analgesics