In the summer of 1957, the citizens of Finland were subjected to a severe and dramatic Type A2/Singapore influenza epidemic. Saxen et al (1960) studied the teratogenic effect of the influenza epidemic. They observed a population of 6075 consecutive deliveries in the First and Second Women's Clinic of the University Central Hospital in Helsinki in late 1957 and early 1958. Timing of the flu infection was recorded for each women. Diagnoses were recorded for all members of the Helsinki 1957 epidemic cohort who had been admitted to any of the eight psychiatric hospitals in the greater Helsinki area. Controls for the study comprised all subjects admitted to these same hospitals born in the same months of the year as Index subjects but in the 6 years preceding the epidemic. The total study sample comprised 1781 individuals. The results showed that those who experienced the epidemic in their second trimester of gestation suffer a significantly higher proportion of adult schizophrenia diagnoses than their controls. Subjects exposed during the first or third trimesters do not show such an increase. The Index subjects tended to receive a disproportionate number of Other (295.8) and Unspecified (2895.9) ICD-8 schizophrenia diagnoses. They also tended not to be diagnosed according to classical subdiagnoses. These results strongly suggested the value of further study of the 1957 Helsinki cohort. The current proposal has the following specific aims: 1) to establish more precisely the critical period in gestation during which fetal viral infection is associated with an increased risk of adult schizophrenia; 2) to identify in the Saxen cohort those 2nd trimester individuals with positive maternal flu symptoms during the epidemic and check whether they exhibit an elevated rate of schizophrenia diagnoses; 3) to obtain in the psychiatric diagnoses of the Index and Control parents and siblings in order to test the hypothesis that 2nd-trimester viral infection only increases the risk of schizophrenia in those genetically predisposed; 4) if possible, to develop a """"""""symptom picture"""""""" of """"""""viral schizophrenia"""""""" based on various clinical tools (SADS-LPSE), Personality Disorder Examination, Affective Flattening Scale, Scale for Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication, and Hospital Chart Inventory).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH037692-04
Application #
3376282
Study Section
Epidemiologic and Services Research Review Committee (EPS)
Project Start
1988-04-01
Project End
1991-03-31
Budget Start
1989-04-01
Budget End
1990-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
041544081
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90033
Schiffman, Jason; Maeda, Justin A; Hayashi, Kentaro et al. (2006) Premorbid childhood ocular alignment abnormalities and adult schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. Schizophr Res 81:253-60
Schiffman, Jason; Pestle, Sarah; Mednick, Sara et al. (2005) Childhood laterality and adult schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a prospective investigation. Schizophr Res 72:151-60
Schiffman, Jason; Lam, Cecilia W; Jiwatram, Tina et al. (2004) Perspective-taking deficits in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a prospective investigation. Psychol Med 34:1581-6
Schiffman, Jason; Walker, Elaine; Ekstrom, Morten et al. (2004) Childhood videotaped social and neuromotor precursors of schizophrenia: a prospective investigation. Am J Psychiatry 161:2021-7
Schiffman, Jason; Ekstrom, Morten; LaBrie, Joseph et al. (2002) Minor physical anomalies and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a prospective investigation. Am J Psychiatry 159:238-43
Machon, R A; Mednick, S A; Huttunen, M O (1997) Adult major affective disorder after prenatal exposure to an influenza epidemic. Arch Gen Psychiatry 54:322-8
Mednick, S A; Huttunen, M O; Machon, R A (1994) Prenatal influenza infections and adult schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 20:263-7
Cannon, T D; Raine, A; Herman, T M et al. (1992) Third ventricle enlargement and lower heart rate levels in a high-risk sample. Psychophysiology 29:294-301
Dykes, K L; Mednick, S A; Machon, R A et al. (1992) Adult third ventricle width and infant behavioral arousal in groups at high and low risk for schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 7:13-8
Erel, O; Cannon, T D; Hollister, J M et al. (1991) Ventricular enlargement and premorbid deficits in school-occupational attainment in a high risk sample. Schizophr Res 4:49-52

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