Risk factors in schizophrenia : a case control study

Abstract EN

Objective : to examine local risk factors attributed to the development of schizophrenia in northern Iraq; which will be essential for planning an effective preventive programme.

Study design : A case control study.

Setting : Al-Zahrawy hospital in Mosul, Iraq.

Study period : from 1st January to 30th June 2000.

Participants : Cases are schizophrenic patients of both sexes who were attending the Psychiatric Clinic of the hospital.

Controls are patients attended the same hospital for diseases other than psychiatric illnesses.

Results : A total of (104) cases and (116) control were selected.

The disease was significantly prevalent among males in the age group of < 25 years, and among females in the age group of (25-44) years.

Family history among parents, brothers, sisters and relatives was significantly common in cases than controls.

Early age of onset was significantly prevalent among those with a positive family history.

Pre-eclampsia and difficult labour are significantly associated and strongly related to the disease development ; while no association was observed regarding cesarean section.

Childhood and developmental abnormalities, CNS infections and accidents were significantly associated with schizophrenia.

Also stressful life events, being single or divorced, were also strongly related to the development of the disease.

Conclusions : Various risk factors were found to be significantly related to the development of schizophrenia.

Other factors were either not related to the disease development like cesarean section or act as a protective factor to it, like marriage.

Further investigations of these factors are required to evaluate their role in the disease development in our locality.