Issue: 2010, Vol. 15, No. 1

Brekhman Г.И., Yagav Р., Gonopolsky М.Х., Tsibulevskaya М.Ю.

PRENATAL STRESS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER

Keywords

prenatal emotional stress, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, risk factors

Abstarct

Clinical findings including detailed medical history of mothers whose children suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder are analyzed. On the base of this analysis it is suggested to consider prenatal stress as a risk factor for development of the above mentioned diseases. Special attention is paid to the stress which the mother and the unborn child have. In authors' opinion the following consecutive risk factors for development of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder are allowed to be: family history of psychotic disorders (predisposition) - prenatal (emotional and/or infectious) stress of women from the very beginning of pregnancy - genetic mutations - emotional stress of children in puberty as the solution factor.