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Both low birthweight and high birthweight are associated with cognitive impairment in persons with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2013

M. Torniainen ,
A. Wegelius ,
A. Tuulio-Henriksson ,
J. Lönnqvist  and
J. Suvisaari
M. Torniainen*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
A. Wegelius
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland
A. Tuulio-Henriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
J. Lönnqvist
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland
J. Suvisaari
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Department of Social Psychiatry, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: M. Torniainen, M.Psych., Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Both low birthweight and high birthweight have been associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia and cognitive impairments in the general population. We assessed the association between birthweight and cognitive performance in persons with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives.

Method

We investigated a population-based family sample comprising persons with schizophrenia (n = 142) and their unaffected first-degree relatives (n = 277). Both patients and relatives were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Clinician Version (SCID-CV) and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was administered. Information on birthweight was obtained from obstetric records. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to investigate the effect of birthweight, as a continuous variable, on cognitive functioning, adjusting for within-family correlation and relevant covariates.

Results

Both low birthweight and high birthweight were associated with lower performance in visuospatial reasoning, processing speed, set-shifting and verbal and visual working memory among persons with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives compared to individuals with birthweight in the intermediate range. The group × birthweight interactions were non-significant.

Conclusions

Both low birthweight and high birthweight are associated with deficits in cognition later in life. Schizophrenia does not seem to modify the relationship between birthweight and cognition in families with schizophrenia.

Keywords

Birthweightcognitionneuropsychologyrelativesschizophrenia
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 11 , November 2013 , pp. 2361 - 2367
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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