CNS infection in childhood does not confer risk for later schizophrenia: A case-control study

Mark Weiser, Nomi Werbeloff, Arie Levine, Gilat Livni, Shaul Schreiber, Demian Halperin, Rinat Yoffe, Michael Davidson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The hypothesized role of CNS infection during childhood in increasing later risk of brain malfunction manifested as schizophrenia has been supported by some but not other studies. We sought to contribute to this debate by linking data on persons who had been hospitalized for meningitis as children, with a National Psychiatric Hospitalization Registry. Method: Data were gathered on 3599 persons who had been hospitalized for a CNS infection before the age of 16, and 6371 controls who had been hospitalized as children for gastroenteritis. Both groups were followed for later hospitalization for schizophrenia between 1970 and 2007 using the Israeli National Psychiatric Hospitalization Case Registry. Data were analyzed using Cox regression analyses. Results: The mean age of the subjects at hospitalization for a CNS infection was 3.4 ± 3.6 years, mean age of the subjects at follow up was 29.3 ± 6.0 years. Compared to controls, hospitalization for any CNS infection during childhood was not associated with an increased risk of later hospitalization for schizophrenia, adjusted HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.5-1.32. Conclusions: Overall there was no significant association between childhood CNS infection and schizophrenia. These data do not support the presence of an infectious etiology of schizophrenia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)231-235
Number of pages5
JournalSchizophrenia Research
Volume124
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by a NARSAD Young Investigator award to MW.

Funding

This study was funded by a NARSAD Young Investigator award to MW.

FundersFunder number
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression

    Keywords

    • Meningitis
    • Psychiatric registry
    • Psychosis

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