BACKGROUND: The association between social inequality at birth and subsequent risk of schizophrenia is uncertain. AIMS: To investigate the relationship between adult-onset schizophrenia and two indicators of social inequality at birth: social class and area of residence. METHOD: A matched case-control design was used with data from birth certificates of first-episode cases and age- and gender-matched controls. RESULTS: Risk increased with increasing levels of deprivation at birth. Subjects whose fathers were social class IV-V or who were born in deprived areas were at increased risk of schizophrenia (odds ratio=2.1; 95% Cl=0.8-5.5). Risk was greater in those with both of these indicators (odds ratio=8.1; 95% Cl=2.7-23.9). There was some evidence that associations were stronger in older subjects. Exclusion of African-Caribbeans or cases with positive family history somewhat attenuated the association. CONCLUSIONS: Indicators of social inequality at birth are associated with increased risk of adult-onset schizophrenia, suggesting that environmental factors are important determinants of schizophrenic disorders.
BACKGROUND: The association between social inequality at birth and subsequent risk of schizophrenia is uncertain. AIMS: To investigate the relationship between adult-onset schizophrenia and two indicators of social inequality at birth: social class and area of residence. METHOD: A matched case-control design was used with data from birth certificates of first-episode cases and age- and gender-matched controls. RESULTS: Risk increased with increasing levels of deprivation at birth. Subjects whose fathers were social class IV-V or who were born in deprived areas were at increased risk of schizophrenia (odds ratio=2.1; 95% Cl=0.8-5.5). Risk was greater in those with both of these indicators (odds ratio=8.1; 95% Cl=2.7-23.9). There was some evidence that associations were stronger in older subjects. Exclusion of African-Caribbeans or cases with positive family history somewhat attenuated the association. CONCLUSIONS: Indicators of social inequality at birth are associated with increased risk of adult-onset schizophrenia, suggesting that environmental factors are important determinants of schizophrenic disorders.
Authors: Richard Herrell; Ioline D Henter; Ramin Mojtabai; John J Bartko; Diane Venable; Ezra Susser; Kathleen R Merikangas; Richard J Wyatt Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2006-07-31 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: E Fuller Torrey; Markus F Leweke; Markus J Schwarz; Norbert Mueller; Silke Bachmann; Johannes Schroeder; Faith Dickerson; Robert H Yolken Journal: CNS Drugs Date: 2006 Impact factor: 5.749
Authors: Daniel R Calabrese; Lei Wang; Michael P Harms; J Tilak Ratnanather; Deanna M Barch; C Robert Cloninger; Paul A Thompson; Michael I Miller; John G Csernansky Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2008-08-09 Impact factor: 4.939