Prenatal exposure to maternal genital and reproductive infections and adult schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
In this birth cohort study, the authors examined the relation between prenatal exposure to maternal genital/reproductive (G/R) infections and schizophrenia in offspring.


METHODS
The birth cohort consisted of 7,794 offspring of pregnancies with prospectively acquired data on maternal G/R infections from obstetric records. The authors diagnosed 71 cases of schizophrenia and other schizophrenia spectrum disorders in this cohort. The relationship between maternal G/R infections and schizophrenia risk was modeled.


RESULTS
Exposure to G/R infections during the periconceptional period was associated with a significantly increased risk of schizophrenia and other schizophrenia spectrum disorders, with adjustment for maternal race, education, age, and mental illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal G/R infection during periconception appears to increase the risk of schizophrenia in offspring.
Babulas
Vicki
V
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Factor-Litvak
Pam
P
Goetz
Raymond
R
Schaefer
Catherine A
CA
Brown
Alan S
AS
D000328:Adult; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology