Schizophrenia maternal factors

Environmental factors, such as prenatal maternal infections and perinatal complications, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Also, the correlation of only 0.6 for age of onset in monozygotic twins concordant for schizophrenia suggests that non-genetic factors play a role in determining the age of onset (Kendler et ah, 1987). A greater frequency or severity of these factors could conceivably result in an earlier onset of schizophrenia. 

The role of other factors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, such as prenatal nutritional deprivation or prenatal maternal infections, have, to our knowledge, not been investigated in patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia. Given the rarity of this condition, such studies are unlikely. 

The concept of schizophrenia as a neurode- velopmental disorder has inspired attempts to create adverse and early postnatal events in, animals to model the psychopathological processes underlying the disorder (109, 110). These neurodevelopmental models include prenatal malnutrition, viral infection and hypoxia, disrupted neurogenesis by X-ray irradiation or neurotoxins in utero, adverse postnatal experiential factors such as maternal deprivation and social isolation, and postnatal brain damage created by hippocampal, neocor-tical, or thalamic lesions (109-111). With the possible exception of maternal deprivation and social isolation, these models have not been sufficiently characterized pharmacologically to be used for antipsychotic drug screening. 

But despite the research limitations, a relationship between maternal stress during pregnancy and later adult schizophrenia in offspring has been established at least in outline.37 Considerable evidence shows that maternal stress during the first trimester of pregnancy may be a particularly important risk factor for later onset of this disorder in offspring.38... 

Edwards M. J. (2007). Hyperthermia in utero due to maternal influenza is an environmental risk factor for schizophrenia. Congenit. 

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