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Is gestational week at birth a predictor of schizophrenia?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

K.-i. Shukunami ,
K. Nishijima ,
M. Shukunami  and
F. Kotsuji
K.-i. Shukunami
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Fukui, Japan
K. Nishijima
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Fukui, Japan
M. Shukunami
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Fukui, Japan
F. Kotsuji
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Fukui, Matsuoka-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1193, Japan. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 187 , Issue 6 , December 2005 , pp. 589
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Copyright © 2005 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

We read with great interest the article by Isohanni et al (Reference Isohanni, Lauronen and Moilanen2005), which investigated subtle motor, emotional, cognitive and behavioural abnormalities as predictors of schizophrenia. The authors concluded that these are not useful predictors of illness. However, Isohanni et al did not investigate gestational age as a predictor of psychological abnormalities in later life. This has recently been used as a predictor in some cohort studies (Reference Thompson, Syddall and RodinThompson et al, 2001; Reference Gale and MartynGale & Martyn, 2004; Reference Wiles, Peters and LeonWiles et al, 2005), and is obstetrically one of the most important predictors of childhood outcomes that are also related to psychological abnormalities in later life (Reference Thompson, Syddall and RodinThompson, 2001; Reference Gale and MartynGale & Martyn, 2004; Reference Cunningham, Leveno and BloomCunningham et al, 2005). We feel strongly that birth cohort studies of psychological abnormalities in later life should include gestational week at birth. The study of Isohanni et al would have benefited from inclusion of this variable.

References

Cunningham, E. G., Leveno, K. J., Bloom, S. L., et al (2005) Williams Obstetrics (22nd edn). New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Gale, C. R. & Martyn, C. N. (2004) Birth weight and later risk of depression in a national birth cohort. British Journal of Psychiatry, 184, 28–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Isohanni, M., Lauronen, E., Moilanen, K., et al (2005) Predictors of schizophrenia. Evidence from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort and other sources. British Journal of Psychiatry, 187 (suppl. 48), s4–s7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, C., Syddall, H., Rodin, I., et al (2001) Birth weight and the risk of depressive disorder in late life. British Journal of Psychiatry, 179, 450–455.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wiles, N. J., Peters, T. J., Leon, D. A., et al (2005) Birth weight and psychological distress at age 45–51 years. Results from the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s cohort study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 187, 21–28.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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