Signs of asphyxia at birth and risk of schizophrenia. Population-based case-control study.

From the Stockholm County In-Patient Register and community registers, the authors identified 524 cases of schizophrenia and 1043 controls, matched for age, gender, hospital and parish of birth. Data on obstetric complications were obtained from birth records. There was a strong association between signs of asphyxia at birth and schizophrenia (OR 4.4; 95% C11.9-10.3) after adjustment for other obstetric complications, maternal history of psychotic illness and social class.