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Season of birth and schizophrenia - an equatorial study
Article first published online: 23 AUG 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1977.tb06672.x
1600-0447/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=2490e7fa7d6cf4ca5c46f8af8cc06622127af8f8 "Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Parker, G. and Balaza, B. (1977), Season of birth and schizophrenia - an equatorial study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 56: 143–146. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1977.tb06672.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 23 AUG 2007
- Article first published online: 23 AUG 2007
- Received March 31, 1977
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Seasonality;
- schizophrenia;
- conception
Studies in the northern and southern hemisphers have generally demonstrated an association between schizophrenia and winter birth. No provious study has been performed in an equatorial region. The present study investigated the distribution of births of 3,508 schizophrenic patients born in the Philippines. A 15% excess above expectation was found for patients born in the coldest 3-month period of the year (December-February). An excess of births in that period was found in both sexes and in each decade of birth examined. The hypothesis that schizophrenics have a greater sensitivity to those physiological factors which determine conception in the general population is not supported.