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Low Birth Weight and Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Larry Rifkin ,
Shôn Lewis ,
Peter Jones ,
Brian Toone  and
Robin Murray
Larry Rifkin*
Affiliation:
Genetics Section, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Shôn Lewis
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London
Peter Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, and King's College Hospital, London
Brian Toone
Affiliation:
King's College and Maudsley Hospitals, London
Robin Murray
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry and King's College Hospital, London
*
Dr L. Rifkin, Genetics Section, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

Background

Low birth weight has been postulated to be a risk factor for schizophrenia.

Method

Obstetric history, premorbid adjustment, and cognitive function during admission were assessed in 167 patients with DSM–III schizophrenia or affective psychosis.

Results

A birth weight of less than 2500 g was significantly more common in patients with schizophrenia than in those with affective psychosis. Schizophrenic patients as a group had significantly lower mean birth weight, a finding which was particularly marked after controlling for sociodemographic confounders. In schizophrenic men, lower birth weight was highly significantly correlated with poorer premorbid social and cognitive ability, and with impairment of adult cognitive function.

Conclusions

Neurodevelopmental impairment may cause poor foetal growth, and schizophrenia in adult life.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 165 , Issue 3 , September 1994 , pp. 357 - 362
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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