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Obstetric Complications linked to Severe Psychopathology in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, suggests study
Spain: A recent study published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews has revealed that patients with schizophrenia and related disorders who have experienced obstetric complications exhibit a higher clinical symptom burden compared to those without such a history.
"Our findings indicate that obstetric complications (OCs) are linked not only to a higher risk of developing psychosis but also to more severe symptoms," the researchers wrote.
Obstetric complications, which include issues such as preeclampsia, low birth weight, and maternal infections during pregnancy, have long been a topic of interest in psychiatric research. Schizophrenia (SZ) is a serious mental health disorder influenced by gene-environment interactions, with obstetric complications increasing the risk of developing the condition. Recent research indicates that OCs may also worsen the symptoms of SZ.
Against the above background, Maria Florencia Forte, Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital ClÃnic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to thoroughly assess the differences in psychopathology between individuals with and without exposure to OCs with schizophrenia and related disorders.
For this purpose, the researchers conducted a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS to identify eligible studies. They retrieved a total of 4,091 records through systematic and citation searches. Ultimately, 14 studies were included in the review, with 12 meeting the criteria for meta-analysis, involving 2,992 patients.
The investigation yielded the following insights:
- The analysis indicated that schizophrenia patients exposed to obstetric complications exhibited significantly higher levels of positive symptoms (SMD=0.10), general psychopathology (SMD=0.37), total clinical symptomatology (SMD=0.44), and depressive symptoms (SMD=0.47).
- There were no significant differences in negative symptomatology or overall functioning.
The results of this meta-analysis indicate a clear link between obstetric complications and more severe symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Patients with a history of OCs showed greater severity in positive symptoms, depressive symptoms, and overall symptom severity compared to those without OCs, but there were no differences in negative symptoms or functional outcomes.
The findings highlight how issues during pregnancy and childbirth can affect the progression of schizophrenia, even in the early stages of the illness. However, due to the limited number of studies available, more research is needed to explore the specifics of stressful perinatal events, including their type and timing, to better understand their impact on individuals with psychosis.
"Recognizing early life complications could serve as a warning sign for future challenges, providing an opportunity to create tailored interventions that improve both clinical and functional outcomes for those affected," the researchers concluded.
Reference:
Forte, M. F., Oliva, V., De Prisco, M., Garriga, M., Bitanihirwe, B., Alameda, L., González-Segura, À., Vieta, E., Baeza, I., Parellada, E., Penadés, R., Ramos-Quiroga, J., Amoretti, S., Mezquida, G., & Garcia-Rizo, C. (2024). Obstetric complications and psychopathology in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 167, 105913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105913
MSc. Biotechnology
Medha Baranwal joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor in 2018 for Speciality Medical Dialogues. She covers several medical specialties including Cardiac Sciences, Dentistry, Diabetes and Endo, Diagnostics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurosciences, and Radiology. She has completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from DU and then pursued Masters in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a working experience of 5 years in the field of medical research writing, scientific writing, content writing, and content management. She can be contacted at  editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751