title: Pre-conception inter-pregnancy interval and risk of schizophrenia.
abstract: It is hypothesised that the risk of schizophrenia may be elevated in children conceived following a short inter-pregnancy interval, when maternal folate stores are still being replenished. We examined the relationship between inter-pregnancy interval and schizophrenia risk in a longitudinal, population-based cohort. Risk of schizophrenia was increased by approximately 150% in those born following a pregnancy interval of ≤6 months, but was not increased if the interval after birth of the participant, before conception of the subsequent sibling, was ≤6 months. These findings support the hypothesis that folate (or other micronutrient) deficiency during fetal development may be an important risk factor for schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine & Neurology, Cardiff University, Heath Park, UK.
authors.forename: Lihini
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gunawardana
authors.forename: George Davey
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zammit
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whitley
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gunnell
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D001721:Birth Intervals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors