Background Most previous case-control studies of obstetric complications in
schizophrenia have been small scale and many have relied on retrospective
information.
Aims To determine which obstetric complications are more common in probands
with schizophrenia than matched controls.
Method Two hundred and ninety-six probands with an in-patient diagnosis of
schizophrenia who had been born in Scotland in 1971-74, and a further 156 b
orn in 1975-78, were closely matched with controls and the incidence of obs
tetric complications in the two compared using obstetric data recorded in a
set format shortly afterbirth.
Results Not a single complication of pregnancy or delivery was significantl
y more common in the probands with schizophrenia than the controls in the 1
971-74 birth cohort and only emergency Caesarean section and labour lasting
over 12 hours were significantly more common in the schizophrenia probands
in the 1975-78 cohort.
Conclusion The evidence that schizophrenia is associated with a raised inci
dence of obstetric complications is weaker than has recently been assumed.
Declaration of interest Funded by the Scottish Office Department of Health.