The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 195: 132-137. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.054387
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Early-life origins of schizotypal traits in adulthood

Jari Lahti, MA(Psych) and Katri Raïkkönen, PhD

University of Helsinki, Department of Psychology, Helsinki, Finland

Ulla Sovio, MSc

Imperial College, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, London, UK, and University of Oulu, Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, Oulu, Finland

Jouko Miettunen, PhD

University of Oulu, Department of Psychiatry, Oulu, Finland

Anna-Liisa Hartikainen, PhD, MD

University Central Hospital Oulu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu, Finland

Anneli Pouta, PhD, MD

National Public Health Institute, Oulu, Finland

Anja Taanila, PhD

University of Oulu, Institute of Health Sciences, Oulu, Finland

Matti Joukamaa, PhD, MD

University of Tampere, School of Public Health, Tampere, Finland

Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, PhD, MD

Imperial College, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, London, UK, and University of Oulu, Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, Oulu, Finland

Juha Veijola, PhD, MD

University of Oulu, Department of Psychiatry, Oulu, Finland

Correspondence: Jari Lahti, Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 9, FI 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. Email: jari.lahti{at}helsinki.fi

Declaration of interest

None.

Funding

This study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grants 104769, 106424, 212848), the Emil Aaltonen Foundation and the Finnish Graduate School in Psychology.

Background

Although schizotypal traits, such as anhedonia and aberrant perceptions, may increase the risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, little is known about early-life characteristics that predict more pronounced schizotypal traits.

Aims

To examine whether birth size or several other early-life factors that have been previously linked with schizophrenia predict schizotypal traits in adulthood.

Method

Participants of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study (n = 4976) completed a questionnaire on positive and negative schizotypal traits at the age of 31 years.

Results

Lower placental weight, lower birth weight and smaller head circumference at 12 months predicted elevated positive schizotypal traits in women after adjusting for several confounders (P<0.02). Moreover, higher gestational age, lower childhood family socioeconomic status, undesirability of pregnancy, winter/autumn birth, higher birth order and maternal smoking during pregnancy predicted some augmented schizotypal traits in women, some in men and some in both genders.

Conclusions

The results point to similarities in the aetiology of schitzotypal traits and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.


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