Dataset Information

Early Life Bereavement and Schizophrenia: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark and Sweden.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to examine whether early life bereavement, as indicator of severe stress, was associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia later in life.Based on population registers, we established a cohort of all children born in Denmark (N?=?1 686 416) and Sweden (N?=?2 563 659) from 1973 to 1997. Children were categorized as exposed if they lost a first-degree relative during the first 18 years of life. Outcome is the first diagnosis of schizophrenia as either inpatient or outpatient. Log-linear Poisson regression models were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs).A total of 188,850 children (4.6%) experienced death of a first-degree relative from birth to 18 years of age. Compared with unexposed children, those exposed had overall a 39% higher risk of schizophrenia (=?1.39, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.32-1.47). The IRR was particularly high if the family member committed suicide (aIRR?=?2.11, 95% CI: 1.90-2.34) or died due to an injury or accident (aIRR?=?1.44, 95% CI: 1.27-1.63). The IRR of schizophrenia decreased with increasing child's age at bereavement (P?1 death during the first 18 years of life (aIRR?=?1.79, 95% CI: 1.46-2.19) had a higher risk than those with a single death (aIRR?=?1.37, 95% CI: 1.30-1.45).The study suggested that exposure to death of a first-degree relative before 18 years was associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in later life. The complex mechanisms behind these associations remain to be elucidated.

SUBMITTER: Liang H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4998249 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Early Life Bereavement and Schizophrenia: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark and Sweden.

Liang Hong H Olsen Jørn J Yuan Wei W Cnattingus Sven S Vestergaard Mogens M Obel Carsten C Gissler Mika M Li Jiong J Li Jiong J

Medicine 20160101 3

We aimed to examine whether early life bereavement, as indicator of severe stress, was associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia later in life.Based on population registers, we established a cohort of all children born in Denmark (N = 1 686 416) and Sweden (N = 2 563 659) from 1973 to 1997. Children were categorized as exposed if they lost a first-degree relative during the first 18 years of life. Outcome is the first diagnosis of schizophrenia as either inpatient or outpatient. Log-lin ...[more]

PMID: 26817875

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Dataset Information

Early Life Bereavement and Schizophrenia: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark and Sweden.

Publications

Early Life Bereavement and Schizophrenia: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark and Sweden.

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