Low birthweight in schizophrenia: Prematurity or poor fetal growth?

In the general population, low birthweight (LBW) is associated with neurolo gical and psychological problems during childhood and adolescence. LBW may result from premature birth or poor fetal growth, and the independent effec ts of these two events on childhood development are not fully understood. T he rate of low weight births is increased in schizophrenia and is associate d with social withdrawal during childhood and an early onset of illness. Ho wever, it is unclear whether this LBW reflects poor fetal growth or prematu re birth, or whether these two risk factors have distinct implications for childhood functioning and age at onset of schizophrenia. Subjects included 270 patients with schizophrenia for whom a detailed history of obstetric ev ents could be obtained. The rate of low weight births was high and was asso ciated with poorer premorbid functioning and an earlier age at illness onse t. The rate of both premature births and poor fetal growth was high relativ e to the normal population. Prematurity, but not poor fetal growth, was ass ociated with premorbid social withdrawal and an early age at illness onset. Poor fetal growth, but not prematurity, was associated with low educationa l achievement. These results suggest that poor fetal growth and prematurity are associated with distinct patterns of childhood maladjustment in indivi duals who develop schizophrenia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.