Adult schizophrenia following prenatal exposure to an influenza epidemic
SA Mednick, RA Machon, MO Huttunen… - Archives of general …, 1988 - jamanetwork.com
• In the context of a Finnish birth cohort, we tested the hypothesis that viral infection during
the latter two thirds of fetal development would increase the risk of adult schizophrenic
outcome. Psychiatric hospital diagnoses were recorded for all individuals in greater Helsinki
who were fetuses during the 1957 type A2 influenza epidemic. Those exposed to the viral
epidemic during their second trimester of fetal development were at elevated risk of being
admitted to a psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This was true for both …
the latter two thirds of fetal development would increase the risk of adult schizophrenic
outcome. Psychiatric hospital diagnoses were recorded for all individuals in greater Helsinki
who were fetuses during the 1957 type A2 influenza epidemic. Those exposed to the viral
epidemic during their second trimester of fetal development were at elevated risk of being
admitted to a psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This was true for both …