Association of participation in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 with mental disorders and suicidal behaviour

OBJECTIVESIn prospective follow-up studies, participants are normally contacted during the follow-up period. Even though the idea is not to intervene, the studies conducted during follow-up may affect the target population. Our hypotheses were that participation in the prospective Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 study (NFBC 1986) increased the use of mental health services and reduced suicidal behaviour due to participation in follow-up studies.METHODSThe NFBC 1986 study covered people with an expected date of birth between July 1985 and June 1986 in northern Finland (n=9,396). The participants of the NFBC 1986 were followed since the antenatal period with follow-ups including clinical examinations. The comparison cohort comprised people born in the same area in 1987 (n=8,959), who were not contacted. Registry data on psychiatric treatment, suicide attempts, and suicides were available. Crude risk ratios (RRs) and adjusted (for marital status and education) Mantel-Haenszel RRs were reported.RESULTSNo increase in mental disorders were found in NFBC 1986 compared to comparison cohort. In the crude RR analysis of female participants, a lower risk for suicide attempts was found (RR, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.49 to 0.92; p=0.011).CONCLUSIONSThe results did not support our first hypothesis regarding the increased use of mental health services in the NFBC 1986 cohort. However, our second hypothesis gained some support as female participants of the NFBC 1986 had a lower risk of suicide attempts, although it was not due to a higher number of participants receiving psychiatric treatment.</p

Cumulative incidences of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders are increasing in five Finnish birth cohorts

Objective The aim of this study was to explore changes in the incidences of childhood and early adulthood hospital-treated psychiatric disorders in five large Finnish birth cohorts of individuals born between 1966 and 1997. Methods The five birth cohorts were as follows: Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC 1966) and 1986 (NFBC 1986), 1987 Finnish Birth Cohort (FBC 1987) and 1997 (FBC 1997), and Finnish 1981 Birth Cohort Study (FBCS 1981). Incidences of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders in each cohort were calculated separately for males (N = 71,209) and females (N = 65,190). Poisson regression was used to test difference in proportions of psychiatric disorders in wide range of diagnosis classes separately in childhood and adolescence, and early adulthood. Results The total incidences of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence among males has increased in the birth cohorts over decades (Incidence Rate Ratio, IRR = 1.04 (1.04-1.05); p <0.001). Similar result was seen among females (IRR = 1.04 (1.03-1.04); p <0.001). In early adulthood, there was significant increase among females (IRR = 1.04 (1.03-1.05); p <0.001), but among males, the change was not significant (IRR = 0.99 (0.99-1.00), p = 0.051). Conclusions The main finding was that the cumulative incidence of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders increased over the decades in Finland. The increasing trend in hospital-treated psychiatric disorders in early adulthood was detected in females but not in males. In the youngest cohorts, the cumulative incidence of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders was at the same level in males and females, whereas in oldest cohort, males had higher incidence than females.Peer reviewe

Body mass index in the middle-aged offspring of parents with severe mental illness

Background People with severe mental illness (SMI) have an elevated risk of obesity but the causes and mechanisms are unclear. We explored the familial association between parental SMI and body mass index (BMI) in middle-aged offspring. Our objective was to determine if the offspring of either parent with SMI have an increased risk for obesity. Methods The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 is a cohort study of offspring with expected date of birth in 1966. The data include originally 12 068 mothers and 12 231 children from the provinces of Lapland and Oulu in Finland. The final study sample included 5050 middle-aged offspring. Parental SMI was used as exposure in the study. BMI measured at the age of 46 years was used as a primary outcome. Results Risk for obesity was elevated in the offspring of mothers with SMI [overweight: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.93 (1.29-2.90), obese class I: 1.97 (1.20-3.25), obese classes II-III: 2.98 (1.67-5.33)]. For the offspring of either parent with SMI, statistically significant results were found in obese class I and obese classes II-III [overweight: adjusted OR 1.21 (0.94-1.54), obese class I: 1.52 (1.03-1.08), obese classes II-III: 1.53 (1.01-2.32)]. Conclusions We found an elevated risk of obesity in the middle-aged offspring of either parent with SMI, especially in the offspring of mothers with SMI. Thus, there might be a common familial pathway leading to the co-occurrence of obesity and SMI.</p

Cumulative incidences of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders are increasing in five Finnish birth cohorts

Objective The aim of this study was to explore changes in the incidences of childhood and early adulthood hospital-treated psychiatric disorders in five large Finnish birth cohorts of individuals born between 1966 and 1997.Methods The five birth cohorts were as follows: Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC 1966) and 1986 (NFBC 1986), 1987 Finnish Birth Cohort (FBC 1987) and 1997 (FBC 1997), and Finnish 1981 Birth Cohort Study (FBCS 1981). Incidences of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders in each cohort were calculated separately for males (N = 71,209) and females (N = 65,190). Poisson regression was used to test difference in proportions of psychiatric disorders in wide range of diagnosis classes separately in childhood and adolescence, and early adulthood.Results The total incidences of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence among males has increased in the birth cohorts over decades (Incidence Rate Ratio, IRR = 1.04 (1.04-1.05); p p p p = 0.051).Conclusions The main finding was that the cumulative incidence of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders increased over the decades in Finland. The increasing trend in hospital-treated psychiatric disorders in early adulthood was detected in females but not in males. In the youngest cohorts, the cumulative incidence of hospital-treated psychiatric disorders was at the same level in males and females, whereas in oldest cohort, males had higher incidence than females.</p

Specific adolescent prodromal symptoms associated with onset of psychosis in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986

Background: Several psychological symptoms in adolescence associate with later development of psychosis. However, it is unclear which symptoms specifically predict psychotic disorders rather than psychiatric disorders in general. We conducted a prospective study comparing how specific adolescent psychotic-like symptoms, predicted psychotic and non-psychotic hospital-treated psychiatric disorders in the population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986). Methods: At age 15-16 years, 6632 members of the NFBC1986 completed the PROD-screen questionnaire. New hospital-treated mental disorders of the NFBC1986 participants were detected between age 17 and 30 years from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care. Multiple covariates were used in the analysis. Results: During the follow-up, 1.1% of the participants developed a psychotic and 3.2% a non-psychotic psychiatric disorder. Three symptoms were specifically associated with onset of psychosis compared to non-psychotic psychiatric disorders: 'Difficulty in controlling one's speech, behaviour or facial expression while communicating' (adjusted OR 4.00; 95% CI 1.66-9.92), 'Difficulties in understanding written text or heard speech' (OR 2.25; 1.12-4.51), and 'Difficulty or uncertainty in making contact with other people' (OR 2.20; 1.03-4.67). Of these, the first one remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first general-population-based prospective study exploring psychiatric symptoms predicting the onset of hospital-treated first-episode psychosis in comparison to non-psychotic disorders. We found three symptoms related with difficulties in social interaction which predicted onset of psychosis. This is a novel finding and should be replicated.</p

Reaction Time and Visual Memory in Connection with Alcohol Use in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between cognition and hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Cognition is more or less compromised in schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder and alcohol use might aggravate this phenomenon. The study population included 3362 individuals from Finland with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Hazardous drinking was screened with the AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption) screening tool. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnoses were obtained from national registrar data. Participants performed two computerized tasks from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) on a tablet computer: The Five-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5-CSRTT) or the reaction time (RT) test and the Paired Associative Learning (PAL) test. The association between alcohol use and the RT and PAL tests was analyzed with log-linear regression and logistic regression, respectively. After adjustment for age, education, housing status, and the age at which the respondents had their first psychotic episodes, hazardous drinking was associated with a lower median RT in females and less variable RT in males, while AUD was associated with a poorer PAL test performance in terms of the total errors adjusted scores (TEASs) in females. Our findings of positive associations between alcohol and cognition in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are unique.Peer reviewe

Reaction Time and Visual Memory in Connection with Alcohol Use in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between cognition and hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Cognition is more or less compromised in schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder and alcohol use might aggravate this phenomenon. The study population included 3362 individuals from Finland with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Hazardous drinking was screened with the AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption) screening tool. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnoses were obtained from national registrar data. Participants performed two computerized tasks from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) on a tablet computer: The Five-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5-CSRTT) or the reaction time (RT) test and the Paired Associative Learning (PAL) test. The association between alcohol use and the RT and PAL tests was analyzed with log-linear regression and logistic regression, respectively. After adjustment for age, education, housing status, and the age at which the respondents had their first psychotic episodes, hazardous drinking was associated with a lower median RT in females and less variable RT in males, while AUD was associated with a poorer PAL test performance in terms of the total errors adjusted scores (TEASs) in females. Our findings of positive associations between alcohol and cognition in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are unique

Lapsuuden ja nuoren aikuisuuden aikaisten tekijöiden yhteys työttömyyteen järjestysasteikollisen vasteen regressiomallituksella analysoituna

Tutkimuksessa pyrittiin kartoittamaan omien sosiaalisten ja terveyteen liittyvien tekijöiden kuin myös biologisten vanhempien sosiaalisten ja terveyteen liittyvien tekijöiden yhteyttä työttömyyteen nuorilla aikuisilla. Työttömyyden syistä on tehty paljon tutkimusta ja tutkimukseen otettiin mukaan niin tunnettuja kuin tähän asti tuntemattomiakin mahdollisia riskitekijöitä laajasti. Tutkimuksen aineistona käytettiin THL:n Kansallinen syntymäkohortti 1987 -tutkimuksen aineistoa, joka sisältää kaikki Suomessa vuonna 1987 syntyneet perinataalikaudesta selvinneet 59 476 henkilöä. Aineisto on rekisteripohjainen ja tutkimukseen kerättiin aineistoja monilta eri rekisterinpitäjiltä. Aineistosta rajattiin korotettua tai korkeinta vammaistukea nostaneet, yli vuoden seurannan aikana ulkomailla asuneet, kehitysvammaiset, kuolleet, työkyvyttömyyseläkkeellä olevat, työvoiman ulkopuolella 2012–2015 aikana olleet sekä ne, joilta puuttui asuintieto vuodelta 2012. Tutkimuksen aineisto sisältää 46 521 henkilöä, joista 55.6% (25 857) on miehiä ja 44.4% (20 664) naisia. Selittävät muuttujat rajattiin tapahtumiin ennen tutkimushenkilön 25-vuotissyntymäpäivää (1987–2012). Vasteena tutkimuksessa oli työttömyyspäivien kumulatiivinen summa 25–28-vuotissyntymäpäivien (2012–2015) väliseltä kolmen vuoden ajanjaksolta. Työttömyyspäivät luokiteltiin seitsemään luokkaan. Ensimmäinen luokka ei sisältänyt työttömyyspäiviä ja seuraavat kuusi luokkaa puolen vuoden jaksoissa siten, että ensimmäinen luokka sisälsi yhdestä päivästä puoleen vuoteen ja viimeinen luokka kahdesta ja puolesta vuodesta kolmeen vuoteen työttömänä olleet. Tilastollisena menetelmänä tutkimuksessa käytettiin järjestysasteikollisen vasteen regressiomallitusta. Vasteen jakauman perusteella malleihin sopivammaksi linkkifunktioksi valikoitui cloglog-funktio. Mallit sovitettiin miehille ja naisille erikseen lapsuudenaikaisilla biologisia vanhempia koskevilla tekijöillä sekä myös kaikilla selittävillä tekijöillä. Mallien tulosten perusteella tarkasteltiin myös erikseen yksittäisten muuttujien ennustettujen kumulatiivisten luokkatodennäköisyyksien vakioituja ja vakioimattomia jakaumia. Tutkimuksen perusteella vahvoja työttömyyden ennustajia ovat mielenterveyden häiriö, peruskoulun keskiarvo, toisen asteen koulutus, rikostuomio, asuinpaikkakunnan työllisyystilanne, työelämään astumisen ikä sekä se, onko vanhempi nostanut toimeentulotukea tutkimushenkilön lapsuudessa. Vanhempien terveyteen liittyvien muuttujien ja työttömyyden välillä ei löydetty yhteyttä

Association of participation in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 with mental disorders and suicidal behaviour

Abstract Objectives: In prospective follow-up studies, participants are normally contacted during the follow-up period. Even though the idea is not to intervene, the studies conducted during follow-up may affect the target population. Our hypotheses were that participation in the prospective Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 study (NFBC 1986) increased the use of mental health services and reduced suicidal behaviour due to participation in follow-up studies. Methods: The NFBC 1986 study covered people with an expected date of birth between July 1985 and June 1986 in northern Finland (n=9,396). The participants of the NFBC 1986 were followed since the antenatal period with follow-ups including clinical examinations. The comparison cohort comprised people born in the same area in 1987 (n=8,959), who were not contacted. Registry data on psychiatric treatment, suicide attempts, and suicides were available. Crude risk ratios (RRs) and adjusted (for marital status and education) Mantel-Haenszel RRs were reported. Results: No increase in mental disorders were found in NFBC 1986 compared to comparison cohort. In the crude RR analysis of female participants, a lower risk for suicide attempts was found (RR, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.49 to 0.92; p=0.011). Conclusions: The results did not support our first hypothesis regarding the increased use of mental health services in the NFBC 1986 cohort. However, our second hypothesis gained some support as female participants of the NFBC 1986 had a lower risk of suicide attempts, although it was not due to a higher number of participants receiving psychiatric treatment