Birth order and hospitalization for schizophrenia.

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Abstract
Among female schizophrenics admitted to Spring Grove State Hospital, Catonsville, Maryland, between 1942 and 1949 there were significantly more last-born than first-born individuals. Compared to first-born, last-born females also showed a lower degree of social competence and a higher incidence of bizarre and self-destructive behavior, raising the question of whether the differences found between the birth ranks are the result of differences in incidence of the disease process or in the prevalence of forms of symptomatology likely to lead to hospitalization. Male patients showed no overall differences in birth rank. However, when the effects of social class of origin were examined, significantly more of the first-born and first-half male patients came from working-class and last-born and last-half patients from middle-class families. In general, the study was seen as providing firm support for the previously reported relationship between birth order and schizophrenia, especially among women.

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