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Month of Birth, Hemisphere of Birth and Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John Mcgrath ,
Joy Welham  and
Michael Pemberton
John Mcgrath*
Affiliation:
Clinical Studies Unit, Wolston Park Hospital
Joy Welham
Affiliation:
Clinical Studies Unit, Wolston Park Hospital
Michael Pemberton
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067
*
John McGrath, Clinical Studies Unit, Wolston Park Hospital, Brisbane, Qld 4067, Australia
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Abstract

Background

To assess quarterly fluctuations in schizophrenia births in a southern hemisphere data set, and to compare the quarterly birth distributions of patients born in the northern and southern hemisphere.

Method

The month and place of birth of patients with schizophrenia (n = 9348) were extracted from a mental health register.

Results

The quarterly birth distribution of patients with schizophrenia differed significantly from the estimated general population distribution in SH-born patients. The quarterly distribution of patient births differed significantly when the two hemispheres were compared.

Conclusion

These data support the hypothesis that there is a risk for schizophrenia that is related to the time of birth, and which fluctuates across the year.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 6 , December 1995 , pp. 783 - 785
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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