LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT AND SCHIZOPHRENIA

Background. Low birth weight has been postulated to be a risk factor f or schizophrenia. Method. Obstetric history, premorbid adjustment, and cognitive function during admission were assessed in 167 patients wit h DSM-III schizophrenia or affective psychosis. Results. A birth weigh t of less than 2500 g was significantly more common in patients with s chizophrenia than in those with affective psychosis. Schizophrenic pat ients as a group had significantly lower mean birth weight, a finding which was particularly marked after controlling for sociodemographic c onfounders. In schizophrenic men, lower birth weight was highly signif icantly correlated with poorer premorbid social and cognitive ability, and with impairment of adult cognitive function. Conclusions. Neurode velopmental impairment may cause poor foetal growth, and schizophrenia in adult life.