News Release

Fetal and birth complications increase mental illness risks

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Psychiatric Association

Washington, DC -- New mental illness research offers bold insights into mental health risks associated with fetal and birth complications according to several papers published in the February 2000 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

In a study at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, researchers learned the risk of developing major affective disorder increased in births exposed to famine in the second trimester and jumped significantly for subjects exposed in the third trimester.

["Further Evidence of Relation Between Prenatal Famine and Major Affect Disorder," by Alan S. Brown, et. al., p 190] APAfastFAX#6905

In a 19-year NIMH-supported longitudinal study using 693 men and women, researchers found hypoxic-ischemia-related fetal/neonatal complications could double the risk of developing a psychotic disorder. The study showed an elevated, graded, independent risk of schizophrenia and other nonaffected psychoses associated with this classification of antecedent hypoxic-ischemia-related fetal/neonatal complications.

["Hypoxic-Ischemia-Related Fetal/Neonatal Complications and Risk of Schizophrenia and Other Nonaffective Psychoses: A 19-Year Longitudinal Study," by Gwen L. Zornberg, et. al., p. 196] APAfastFAX#6904

In a third study by the Malmo University Hospital, Sweden, and the National Institute of Mental Health, Thomas F. McNeil and associates learned that trauma at the time of labor and delivery and especially prolonged labor appeared to be of importance for brain structure anomalies associated with schizophrenia.

["Relationship of Obstetric Complications and Differences in Size of Brain Structures in Monozygotic Twin Pairs Discordant for Schizophrenia," Thomas F. McNeil, et. al, p. 203] APAfastFAX#6903

Also in the February issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry:

Major Depressive Disorder Highly Recurrent

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Program on the Psychobiology of Depression followed patients with major depressive disorder for 10 years and found that nearly two-thirds of the patients suffered at least one recurrent episode of the illness.

["Multiple recurrences of Major Depression Disorder," David A. Solomon, et. al, p. 229] APAfastFAX#6902

Seasonal Affective Disorder Low in Iceland

Researchers at the Ulleval Hospital in Oslo, Norway and the University of Iceland, have found that the prevalence of seasonal mood variations (affective disorder) is unexpectedly low among Icelanders. The study revealed that the mean anxiety level and depression scores in winter were no higher than those in summer.

["Lack of Seasonal Mood Change in the Icelandic Population: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study," by Andres Magnusson, et. al. p. 234] APAfastFAX#6901

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Copies of these articles are available in their entirety by calling APAfastFAX at 888-357-7924.

The American Journal of Psychiatry is published by the American Psychiatric Association, a national medical specialty society, founded in 1844, whose 40,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses and substance use disorders.


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