SEASON OF BIRTH AND SCHIZOPHRENIA - SOUTHERN-HEMISPHERE

Objective: The association between winter birth and increased incidenc e of schizophrenia is well documented in the northern hemisphere, The present study examined season of birth and schizophrenia in a southern hemisphere population from a mild temperate climate. Method: The seas onal incidence of birth in schizophrenic patients was compared, using Chi-squared tests, to normative population birth rates. Results: A sta tistically significant seasonal pattern, with a peak in late spring an d early summer, was obtained. Conclusion: This supports northern hemis phere findings regarding calendar month, but not season, of excess sch izophrenic births, This has implications for viral and other aetiologi cal hypotheses dependent on meteorological factors.