Are reduced head circumference at birth and increased obstetric complications associated only with schizophrenic psychosis? A comparison with schizo-affective and unspecified functional psychoses.

Patients with schizophrenia have previously been found to have decreased head circumference (HC) at birth and increased rates of obstetric complications (OCs). To determine whether this is restricted to schizophrenia or also characterizes other rather similar psychoses, 30 patients with schizo-affective disorder or unspecified functional psychosis defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria were compared with 30 demographically matched control cases from the same delivery series on HC and OCs, blindly studied through hospital birth records. As compared with controls, the 30 nonschizophrenic patients had significantly decreased HC but not lower birthweight, shoulder circumference or shorter body length. HC was significantly decreased among female but not male patients. Rates of OCs were not significantly increased in the 30 nonschizophrenic patients versus controls. Neither HC nor OC rates were systematically associated with family history of psychosis or season of birth among patients. The findings indicate that these nonschizophrenic psychoses are similar to schizophrenia in having reduced HC at birth but dissimilar from schizophrenia in not having increased rates of OCs. The findings suggest that the gender focus in schizophrenia's etiology should be broadened to include other rather similar diagnostic categories.