Stressful life events preceding the acute onset of schizophrenia: A cross-national study from the World Health Organization

Abstract

This study reports on the findings from a WHO sponsored cross-national investigation of life events and schizophrenia. Data are presented from a series of 386 acutely ill schizophrenic patients selected from nine field research centers located in developing and developed countries (Aarhus, Denmark; Agra, India; Cali, Colombia; Chandigarh, India; Honolulu, USA; Ibadan, Nigeria; Nagasaki, Japan; Prague, Czechoslovakia; Rochester, USA). On a methodological level, the study demonstrates that life event methodologies originating in the developed countries can be adapted for international studies and may be used to collect reasonably reliable and comparable cross-cultural data on psychosocial factors affecting the course of schizophrenic disorders. Substantive findings replicate the results of prior studies which conclude that socioenvironmental stressors may precipitate schizophrenic attacks and such events tend to cluster in the two to three week period immediately preceding illness onset.

Disruption of Neurogenesis on Gestational Day 17 in the Rat Causes Behavioral Changes Relevant to Positive and Negative Schizophrenia Symptoms and Alters Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release in Nucleus Accumbens

“…This result is reminiscent of the findings in schizophrenic patients, who are hypersensitive to D-amphetamine, both on a behavioral level, and in terms of subcortical dopamine release (Laruelle et al, 1999;Lieberman et al, 1990;Breier et al, 1997). The hypersensitivity of MAM GD17 animals to a mild stress is also in accordance with stress susceptibility in schizophrenia, where psychological stress may precipitate or exacerbate psychotic symptoms (Day et al, 1987;Norman and Malla, 1993).…”

Factors associated with relapse of schizophrenia

“…Previous studies have shown that non-compliance with medication, 9,12,20-22 high level of expressed emotion [11][12][13][14][23][24][25] and stressful life events 13,14,26,27 are strongly associated with relapse of schizophrenia. 26 Regarding factors associated with the relapse of schizophrenia, among two hundred schizophrenic patients, 94 (47%) were noncompliant with medication.…”

The effect of childhood trauma and Five-Factor Model personality traits on exposure to adult life events in patients with psychotic disorders

“…Exposure to recent life events is associated with an increased risk of experiencing a first psychotic episode (Beards et al, 2013;Day et al, 1987). Additionally, in patients with psychotic disorders, evidence accumulates that recent life events are associated with psychotic relapse although findings are equivocal, partly due to methodological differences in life events studies (Fallon, 2008).…”