Risk factors in early life
There are many hazards early in human life.
The fetus may be exposed to situations with malnutrition, chronic
oxygen deficiency, maternal intoxication, maternal stress, hormonal
dysregulation, maternal infections or other diseases.
Delivery
Delivery is a critical moment with a potential risk of trauma, tissue
damage or anoxia. The young child may encounter malnutrition, maltreatment,
infections or other diseases or traumas.
Obstetric complications and schizophrenia
The relationship between obstetric complications and schizophrenia
has been in focus of attention since the sixties. Large epidemiological
studies have shown that birth and childhood in urban areas and birth
during the winter and early spring confer an increased risk of developing
schizophrenia later in life.
Swedish medical records have high quality
The high quality of medical records from prenatal and delivery care
in Sweden offer a good opportunity to investigate the relation between
early hazards and later development of schizophrenia. The HUBIN
consortium takes advantage of this possibility and also offers a
unique possibility to study the relation between early environmental
and genetic factors in the cause of schizophrenia.
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