Mortality in Offspring of Parents With Psychotic Disorders: A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Large-scale population-based studies are needed to understand mortality risk in offspring of parents with psychoses. In the absence of etiological evidence, only general preventive measures can be taken. Prevention of offspring mortality at an early age is most likely to be achieved by identification and treatment of maternal disorder and greater provision of support to these vulnerable families.

Impact of Epidemiology on Molecular Genetics of Schizophrenia

“…Therefore, the hypothesis predicts that the risk of preeclampsia, eclampsia, or stillbirth may be increased in the birth of patients with schizophrenia as well as in the pregnancies of women with schizophrenia. Indeed, an excess of stillbirths and neonatal deaths among women with schizophrenia has been reported by several investigators (Sobel, 1961;Rieder et al, 1975;Modrzewska, 1980;Webb et al, 2005).…”

The clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of community-based interventions aimed at improving or maintaining quality of life in children of parents with serious mental illness: a systematic review

“…In rare cases, parental mental health difficulties have also been associated with increased rates of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in children. 34 Large population studies have reported elevated risks for neonatal death, sudden infant death syndrome, accidental injury and child homicide. 34 The longer-term impact of serious parental mental illness has been demonstrated to extend into adulthood and includes a higher risk of social and occupational dysfunction, 35,36 increased psychological and psychiatric morbidity, 37 lower self-esteem and increased alcohol or substance misuse.…”

Management of women with psychosis during pregnancy

“…Women with psychotic disorders are also more likely to abuse substances, smoke and consume alcohol during pregnancy. 11,12 It is clear from a number of systematic reviews that women with psychotic disorders are at increased risk of obstetric complications 12,13 and stillbirths, 3 though these findings may be explained by confounding factors such as smoking, substance misuse, socioeconomic status, genetic susceptibility, poorer antenatal care, or possible effects of psychotropic medication.…”

“…Psychotic disorders increase the risk of stillbir th and infant mortality 3 and can affect a woman's ability to care for herself and her infant. 4 Although women with psychoses are less fertile than the general population, 5 partly as a result of hyperprolactinaemia secondary to antipsychotic drugs, the increasing use of newer atypical drugs such as clozapine and olanzapine, which do not have this effect, is likely to lead to a rise in fertility, particularly in women with affective psychosis.…”