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L Cardascia

Publications and source records attributed to L Cardascia.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Risk for obstetric complications and schizophrenia.

The goal of this study was to determine whether cases with schizophrenia or related disorders show a history of obstetric complications significantly more often than control subjects and, if so, whether the enhanced risk of a negative pregnancy outcome also extends to the non-schizophrenic offspring of cases. Data based on the obstetric birth case-notes of patients with diagnosed schizophrenia or related disorders were compared to those of normal 'healthy' control subjects; each case/control pair was individually matched by gender, time and parity of birth, maternal age and marital status. Forty-four case/control pairs born in Padova (Italy) between 1964 and 1978 were assessed for prenatal and perinatal complications, including abnormal gestational age or birthweight. No significant differences were observed between cases and control subjects in the general characteristics of birth; gestational age and birthweight in particular were strictly comparable between cases and control subjects. The schizophrenia spectrum patients (75%) were more likely than control subjects (59%) to have experienced at least one definite obstetric complication: odds ratio=2.07 (95% CI: 0.83-5. 15). Cases also suffered more complications per birth than control subjects (average 2:1). In particular, obstetric complications involving a clear damaging potential were seen significantly more often among cases than control subjects: 34% vs. 9%, Fisher's exact test, P=0.008 (odds ratio=5.17, 95% CI: 1.55-17.21). Moreover, severe obstetric complications were noted more often among males (n=13, 41%) than females (n=2, 15%). When any previous pregnancies of the mothers of patients were compared with those of the mothers of control subjects, mothers of cases were seen to have suffered unfavorable pregnancy outcomes significantly more often. In particular mothers of cases were seen to have had more miscarriages (OR=4.66), and pre-term births (OR=2.58) than control subects' mothers. Severe, brain-damaging obstetric complications would seem to be a possible antecedent to a diagnosis of schizophrenia or a related disorder in adulthood. Indeed, some early onset cases may be accounted for by prenatal brain lesions. This enhanced risk of negative pregnancy outcome may be under genetic control, contributing to the persistence of schizophrenia in the general population. The 'healthy' status of control subjects was ascertained indirectly, not by individual assessment of the subjects. The sample size limits the statistical power of calculations.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Obstetric complications in patients with depression--a population-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: To examine whether sufferers of affective disorders are more likely to be subject to obstetric complications than normal healthy people. METHOD: Data based on prospectively recorded birth case-notes for patients with a diagnosis of depression (or related disorders) with early onset were compared to those of normal healthy controls, individually matched by gender, time and parity of birth, maternal age and marital status. RESULTS: Forty-one case-controls pairs born between 1964 and 1978 were compared. No differences between cases and controls in gestational age or birthweight were significant, though depressive patients on average weighed 200 g less than controls at birth. Patients were more likely than controls to be small for their gestational age (22 vs. 1: chi(2)=4.34, P=0.03). They were significantly more likely than controls to have suffered at least one obstetric complication: 35 (85%) vs. 25 (60%), chi(2)=5.03, P=0.02; or more than one (two on average, as opposed to one on average among controls). No obstetric complication was seen significantly more among cases than controls, apart from bleeding during gestation, which was observed for four cases and no controls. The prevalence of complications with a clear brain damaging potential did not differ significantly between cases and controls: 11 (26%) vs. 8 (19%). CONCLUSIONS: A developmental deficit, as indicated by lower birthweight and gestational age, may contribute to the risk of depressive breakdowns and affective disorders in later life. Severe, brain damaging obstetric complications are unlikely to be a significant risk factor for affective disorders, though some early onset cases may be accounted for by prenatal brain lesions. LIMITATIONS: Sample size limits statistical power for isolation of a rare, single risk factor.

Adult↗