Schizophrenia link to sex diseases

The risk of schizophrenia may increase in the womb

Children born to mothers who have genital herpes may be more likely to develop psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia as adults, say researchers.

A team from the Harvard School of Public Health found a significant link between the two.

We would not expect to find a single cause for something as complex and misunderstood as schizophrenia

Paul Corry

They say there is no clear explanation for the link.

But they believe that contracting herpes during pregnancy or delivery may trigger psychosis in babies that are already genetically susceptible later in life.

Previous research has suggested that the development of psychotic illnesses may be linked to environmental factors.

Being born in the winter, in a city, or to a mother who has an infection have all been implicated.

Data

New Scientist magazine reports that Dr Stephen Buka and his team examined data from 3,804 babies born in Providence, Rhode Island, between 1959 and 1966.

Blood samples were taken from their mothers at their first antenatal check and thereafter every two months until delivery, when the final sample was taken.

The researchers identified 27 who suffered psychotic illness as adults.

Then they checked the maternal blood samples taken around the time of birth for signs of infection.

They looked for evidence of pathogens known to affect neural development such as rubella, genital herpes virus and chlamydia, another sexually transmitted disease.

Only the genital herpes virus was significantly higher in maternal blood samples.

Poorly understood

Paul Corry, of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, told BBC News Online: "Schizophrenia is a poorly understood illness.

"There are certainly genetic factors because you are at increased risk if a person in your family has the illness.

"However, there are also environmental factors because 60% of news cases have no family history of the illness at all.

"We welcome research into the area, but we would not expect to find a single cause for something as complex and misunderstood as schizophrenia."