Maternal Infections and Subsequent Psychosis Among Offspring

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Abstract
SCHIZOPHRENIA AND related psychotic illnesses are a class of pervasive neuropsychiatric disorders of uncertain origin. Family, twin, and adoption studies have identified a genetic component to schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. However, specific genes have not as yet been identified.1-5 Epidemiological studies have identified several environmental factors associated with these illnesses, many related to events that occur during pregnancy or during the birth process. These include winter and spring birth, birth in an urban area, prematurity, complications during labor and delivery, and extreme famine during pregnancy.6-10 Studies have also suggested an association between exposure to infectious agents during pregnancy and the subsequent development of schizophrenia,11-13 although findings in this area are equivocal14,15 and with the occurrence of infections in early infancy.16,17 This body of research suggests that prenatal and perinatal infections and other environmental insults that adversely affect infant brain development may result in schizophrenia in later life, most likely in genetically susceptible individuals.4,18-20

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