BACKGROUND: Although schizotypal traits, such as anhedonia and aberrant perceptions, may increase the risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, little is known about early-life characteristics that predict more pronounced schizotypal traits. AIMS: To examine whether birth size or several other early-life factors that have been previously linked with schizophrenia predict schizotypal traits in adulthood. METHOD: Participants of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study (n = 4976) completed a questionnaire on positive and negative schizotypal traits at the age of 31 years. RESULTS: Lower placental weight, lower birth weight and smaller head circumference at 12 months predicted elevated positive schizotypal traits in women after adjusting for several confounders (P<0.02). Moreover, higher gestational age, lower childhood family socioeconomic status, undesirability of pregnancy, winter/autumn birth, higher birth order and maternal smoking during pregnancy predicted some augmented schizotypal traits in women, some in men and some in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to similarities in the aetiology of schitzotypal traits and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
BACKGROUND: Although schizotypal traits, such as anhedonia and aberrant perceptions, may increase the risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, little is known about early-life characteristics that predict more pronounced schizotypal traits. AIMS: To examine whether birth size or several other early-life factors that have been previously linked with schizophrenia predict schizotypal traits in adulthood. METHOD:Participants of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study (n = 4976) completed a questionnaire on positive and negative schizotypal traits at the age of 31 years. RESULTS: Lower placental weight, lower birth weight and smaller head circumference at 12 months predicted elevated positive schizotypal traits in women after adjusting for several confounders (P<0.02). Moreover, higher gestational age, lower childhood family socioeconomic status, undesirability of pregnancy, winter/autumn birth, higher birth order and maternal smoking during pregnancy predicted some augmented schizotypal traits in women, some in men and some in both genders. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to similarities in the aetiology of schitzotypal traits and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
Authors: Hilgo Bruining; Sophie van Rijn; Hanna Swaab; Jacques Giltay; Wendy Kates; Martien J H Kas; Herman van Engeland; Leo de Sonneville Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2010-10-29 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Sarah E Morton; Kirstie J M O'Hare; Jaimee L K Maha; Max P Nicolson; Liana Machado; Ruth Topless; Tony R Merriman; Richard J Linscott Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2017-05-01 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Jari Lahti; Marius Lahti; Anu-Katriina Pesonen; Kati Heinonen; Eero Kajantie; Tom Forsén; Kristian Wahlbeck; Clive Osmond; David J P Barker; Johan G Eriksson; Katri Räikkönen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-01-29 Impact factor: 3.240