Familial influences on the clinical characteristics of major depression: a twin study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66157/1/j.1600-0447.1992.tb03283.x.pd

Environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorders

Aims: Two overarching hypotheses were tested in this thesis- first, that the environmental factors studied during pregnancy or the time preceding birth would be associated with a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring; and second, that these risk factors and/or their magnitude of associations may be different for autism spectrum disorders with and without intellectual disability (ID). Methods: Studies I-IV were case-control studies nested within a population-based cohort of all children 0 to 17 years old, living in Stockholm County between the years 2001 to 2007 (n=589,114). ASD cases, identified using multisource case-ascertainment, were matched by age and sex to 10 living non-ASD controls. Prospectively collected information on exposures and potential confounders was ascertained by record linkage with relevant registers, and timed to the prenatal period. Exposures included measures of parental socioeconomic status (Study I), migration (Study II), life events (Study III) and parental depression and maternal antidepressant use during pregnancy (Study IV). For Study III, an additional cohort in England (maximum n = 11554) was used to study the risk of offspring ASD in relation to a combined maternal exposure to up to 42 common and rare life events, as well as their perceived impact upon the mother during pregnancy and early life. Results: In Study I, measures of a lower parental socioeconomic status – specifically, lower household income, and unskilled, manual or unclassified occupations were associated with a higher risk of ASD. The associations were similar in ASD with or without ID. In Study II, maternal migration had divergent relationships with ASD with and without ID- showing heightened risks for ASD with ID and reduced ones for ASD without ID. This study found that associations of migration with autism varied by the geographical region of origin of the mother, by the human development of the region of origin, and the timing of migration in relation to pregnancy. In Study III, no evidence for a relationship between stressful life events during pregnancy and a heightened risk of ASD was found, using data from the two population-based studies in Sweden and England respectively. In Study IV, a higher risk of ASD was associated with a prenatal history of maternal depression, but did not appear to be associated with paternal depression. In a smaller sample, when maternal antidepressant use was simultaneously studied, the associations of maternal depression with ASD appeared to be confined to the group of women who reported taking antidepressants during pregnancy. The associations were higher for ASD without ID, and were not observed for ASD with ID. Conclusion: In three of the four studies there was evidence of a relationship between the prenatal factors studied and a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders. In two studies, the timing of the event (migration, antidepressant use or severe depression during pregnancy) was indicative of pregnancy related exposures, highlighting the importance of considering environmental factors acting in utero in the pathways to autism. The marked differences in risks for autism with and without intellectual disability with exposures in two studies highlight the value of studying these categories separately, since they may have different determinants

A long-term follow-up of personality disorders : Maudsley twin series.

En l'article que segueix, Antoni Martí i Coll, advocat i historiador, col·laborador habitual del Museu Arxiu de Santa Maria, ens parla del que pensaven els mataronins de la seva ciutat a inicis del segle XX, a partir de les opinions expressades ens els Jocs Florals celebrats a Mataró el 1904 i el 191

Schizophrenia, Cancer and Obstetric Complications in an Evolutionary Perspective-An Empirically Based Hypothesis

OBJECTIVE: Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia have reduced fecundity and premature mortality (both accidental and violent) with no obvious compensatory advantages among kin. The prevalence of the disorder is around 0.7/1%, higher than the expected prevalence of spontaneous mutations. Genes favoring schizophrenia may have been positively selected in the environment of evolutionary adaptation. Literature on potential adaptive genes is reviewed within an evolutionary framework. METHODS: Literature search on major scientific search engine (PubMed/Medline, Ovid/PsychInfo) on papers aimed at investigating potential pathways justifying a mutation-selection balanced model. Findings are presented with a narrative touch to favor readability and understanding. RESULTS: Reduced incidence of cancer in both patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and their siblings was reported worldwide. Such findings are notable given higher cancer risk factors in schizophrenia, i.e., smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, poor diet, and poor adherence to therapy. Some genes involved in cancer proliferation might as well confer protective advantage in immune-surveillance, inflammation, vascular proliferation or apoptosis that otherwise will adversely affect early neurodevelopment. CONCLUSION: Evidence that reduced risk of certain somatic diseases is associated with schizophrenia is quite significant to progress in the evolutionary epidemiological analysis of psychopathology

Autism versus schizophrenia : a comparative study

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate and compare the two mental disorders of autism and schizophrenia. The hypothesis was that since, historically, there has been some confusion that persists as to the distinction between these two serious mental disorders; A comparison showing their similarities and differences as to onset, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, incidence, and outcome would make a clearer distinction between them possible. In addition, the premise was that a study of this kind would provide useful information as to the current thinking and practices regarding autism and schizophrenia individually, especially, since both are known world-wide with predictions for increased incidents in the future. Two case histories were selected to illustrate the comparison – a typical case of autism and a typical case of schizophrenia. Using observation methods, the comparison was made of the onset, diagnosis, symptoms, prognosis, treatment, and outcome between the case of autism and the case of schizophrenia. Case history records, counseling, art therapy, behavior modification, and interviews with the parents of each case were used to obtain the necessary information. The results of the comparative study supported the hypothesis. A clear distinction between autism and schizophrenia became apparent. Autism and schizophrenia are different and unrelated disorders. The hypothesis was also supported by research of the literature.California State University, Northridge. Department of Education.Includes bibliographical references (pages 102-105