Association between Prenatal Viral Infections and the Occurrence of Schizophrenia in Adulthood

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. Genetics and environmental factors appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Epidemiological studies have focused on the relationship between viral infection during pregnancy and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia in offspring. The aim of our review is to summarize whether viral infections during pregnancy can lead to psychiatric disorders and especially to schizophrenia in adulthood. For that purpose we undertaken a thorough search in Pubmed using as keywords viral infections, schizophrenia, perinatal infections and virus. Epidemiological studies have focused on the relationship between perinatal viral infections and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia in offspring. Influenza virus, various members of the Herpesviridae family, retroviruses, borna virus are discussed as examples of viral infections associated with schizophrenia. These viral infections appear to interfere with the normal maturation of the brain and may lead to the subsequent onset of schizophrenia. Another epidemiological aspect of schizophrenia is the fact that it presents a seasonal prevalence with peaks in offsprings which wer born during winter and spring. It is also possible for an infection occurring in infancy to reactivate later, as is known to happen with herpes viruses. Overall,various studies showed that prenatal maternal infections appear to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia in the offspring, and this is due to the body's immune response to the infection, and not in exposure to specific viral or bacterial pathogens.