Mother's stress in early pregnancy 'puts baby at risk of schizophrenia'

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Babies whose mothers suffered severe stress in early pregnancy - such as the death of a relative - may be at increased risk of schizophrenia, say researchers.

They have discovered a link between serious life changes in the first three months of pregnancy and development of the mental health disorder among offspring in later life.

Severe stress was classed as the death of an older child, partner, parent, or sibling or a relative developing a serious illness, such as cancer or having a heart attack.

Pregnant women who suffered major stress had children with a 67 per cent increased risk of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a psychotic illness, with symptoms including hallucinations, delusions and quickly changing moods. There is no cure but some sufferers can be treated with drugs.

Previous research has suggested a link between events in pregnancy, such as infections, including flu, and maternal stress, with increased risk of schizophrenia.

Professor Philip Baker, of Tommy's, the baby charity which funded the study, said: "Increasingly we are learning that the environment a baby is exposed to inside the womb is determining long-term health.

"This study shows that stress in the early stages increases the risk of a baby getting mental health problems.

"That very early stage, which some people don't pay enough attention to, is the most important determinant of how successful a pregnancy is going to be.

"These are quite new concepts but they are really changing the way we think about pregnancy and much longer-term effects on a baby's health."

However, Professor Baker, an obstetrician at St Mary's Hospital Manchester, said expectant women should not be anxious about mental illness affecting their children as a result of events over which they had no control.

"We don't want to over-worry people because the absolute risks are small," he added.

The study, published in the Archives of Psychiatry, was based at the Manchester research centre of Tommy's.