Perinatal origin of adult self destructive behavior

Birth record data were gathered for 412 forensic cases comprising suicide victims, alcoholics, and drug addicts born in Stockholm after 1940 and who died there in 1978 - 1984. Comparison with 2901 controls. Suicides involving asphyxiation were closely associated with asphyxiation at birth; suicides by violent mechanical means were associated with mechanical birth trauma; drug addiction was associated with opiate or barbiturate administration to mothers during labor.