THE RELATION OF PREMATURITY AND PREVIOUS FETAL LOSS TO CHILDHOOD SCHIZOPHRENIA
MILTON TERRIS M.D.,
REMA LAPOUSE M.D.1, , and
MARY A. MONK PH.D.2
1 Professor and Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine, New York Medical College
2 Assistant Professor of Chronic Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene
A study of 463 childhood schizophrenics and their matched controls disclosed no evidence of an association of childhood schizophrenia with prematurity. There was, however, a definite association with a history of previous fetal loss.
The relation of these findings to various etiologic hypotheses is discussed. It is considered doubtful that childhood schizophrenia is included in the continuum of reproductive casualty associated with maternal and fetal factors causing anoxia or nonmechanical injury.
In view of current uncertainty and disagreement concerning the nosology and diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia, interpretation of the results of this investigation must be made with caution. Further studies of the relation of previous fetal loss, prematurity and complications of pregnancy to childhood schizophrenia, carried out in a number of different centers, are necessary to evaluate the findings indicated in this report.
