Prenatal exposure to influenza as a risk factor for adult schizophrenia

Objective:  Several, but not all epidemiological studies, have demonstrated a positive correlation between exposure to the virus during the second trimester of pregnancy and an increased risk to the infants for subsequently developing schizophrenia. The present study is the first be designed in Fran...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica 2003-05, Vol.107 (5), p.331-335
Main Authors: Limosin, F., Rouillon, F., Payan, C., Cohen, J-M., Strub, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
Female
France - epidemiology
Humans
influenza
Influenza, Human - complications
Influenza, Human - epidemiology
intrauterine exposure
Male
Maternal Exposure
Medical sciences
mental disorders
Middle Aged
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - virology
Pregnancy Trimester, Second
prenatal experience
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychoses
risk factor
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - epidemiology
Schizophrenia - virology
Time Factors
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Summary:Objective:  Several, but not all epidemiological studies, have demonstrated a positive correlation between exposure to the virus during the second trimester of pregnancy and an increased risk to the infants for subsequently developing schizophrenia. The present study is the first be designed in France to examine the risk of gestational exposure to the influenza virus and subsequent development of schizophrenia. Method:  A total of 974 adults with schizophrenia born between 1949 and 1981 were compared for risk of exposure to influenza with their non‐schizophrenic siblings and with matched control patients. Results:  Significantly more schizophrenic subjects than controls (both groups) had been exposed to the influenza virus during the fifth month of pregnancy (OR=2.24, CI: 1.49–3.35, and OR=1.61, CI: 1.04–2.49). Conclusion:  These results suggest that influenza infection during pregnancy is a neurodevelopmental risk factor for schizophrenia in adult life.
ISSN:0001-690X
1600-0447
DOI:10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.00052.x