HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MUNK-JØRGENSEN, P. Articles by EWALD, H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by MUNK-JØRGENSEN, P. Articles by EWALD, H.

Epidemiology in neurobiological research: exemplified by the influenza—schizophrenia theory

HENRIK EWALD, MD, DrMSc

Department of Psychiatric Demography, Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Aarhus, Denmark

Correspondence: Professor Povl Munk-Jørgensen, Institute for Basic Psychiatric Research, Psychiatric Hospital in Aarhus, DK-8240 Risskov, Denmark

Declaration of interest None.

ABSTRACT

Background During recent years the strategy for aetiological research in schizophrenia has been to concentrate on two closely connected directions: the search for the genetic element and the search for environmental factors. Damage to the immature brain during pregnancy and delivery has given us the most interesting results from recent environmental research.

Aims To examine the validity of the influenza—schizophrenia hypothesis.

Method A review of register-based epidemiological studies in Denmark conducted over a 10-year period.

Results The studies reviewed provided strong inferential evidence in favour of the hypothesis, but some methodological problems are unresolved and not all replication studies have been positive.

Conclusions The brain-damage hypothesis points to possibilities for identifying high-risk individuals at an early stage of life and perhaps establishing specific preventive programmes. There is, however, a great need for closer international collaboration in future research.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. F. Sullivan, K. S. Kendler, and M. C. Neale Schizophrenia as a Complex Trait: Evidence From a Meta-analysis of Twin Studies Arch Gen Psychiatry, December 1, 2003; 60(12): 1187 - 1192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. T. A. CHENG and B. COOPER Introduction The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2001; 178 (40): s1 - s2. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. COOPER Nature, nurture and mental disorder: old concepts in the new millennium The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2001; 178 (40): s91 - s101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]