Negative association between a history of obstetric complications and the number of neurological soft signs in first-episode schizophrenic disorder.
We examined the relationship between a history of obstetric complications (OCs) and the number of neurological soft signs (NSS) in a group of 132 patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis. We measured NSS by means of a comprehensive standardized assessment and gained information on a selection of nine OCs from the patient's mother. Contrary to our expectations we found significantly more NSS in the group of patients without a history of OCs. This effect was independent of medication in the group of patients with a schizophrenic disorder, but not in the entire group. It is possible that the patients with a history of OCs carry fewer genes for schizophrenia (and NSS) and 'needed' the OCs to develop schizophrenia.
Boks
Marco P M
MP
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry B01.206, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.p.m.boks@psych.azu.nl
Selten
Jean-Paul
JP
Leask
Stuart
S
Castelein
Stynke
S
van den Bosch
Robert J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents