Prenatal infectious and nutritional factors and risk of adult schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a severely disabling psychiatric disorder. Despite a considerable amount of research on the underpinnings of the disorder, its etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. In utero exposures, including infection and nutritional deficiencies, are emerging important risk factors for schizophrenia, in which neurodevelopmental influences probably play an important role. Our group and others have embarked on investigations aimed at identifying these risk factors and examining the mechanisms by which they increase vulnerability to this disorder. This work has the potential to lead to strategies aimed at preventing this disorder and to reveal new molecular targets for pharmacotherapeutic intervention.

Keywords::

• epidemiology
• gene–environment interaction
• infection
• nutrition
• pregnancy complications
• prenatal risk factors
• schizophrenia

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Ezra S Susser (MD, PH), Catherine A Schaefer (PhD) and Barbara A Cohn (PhD) for their contributions to this body of work. This manuscript was supported by the following grants: NIMH 1K02MH65422 (AS Brown), NIMH 1R01MH 63264 (AS Brown), a grant from the Theodore and Vada Stanley Foundation (AS Brown), NA-SAD (AS Brown), NICHD N01-HD-1-3334 (BA Cohn) and NICHD NO1-HD-6-3258 (BA Cohn).