Maternal infections can also increase the risk of developing schizophrenia in the child. 

- This is shown below in the graph. Due to the mother getting sick during previous winter, the child born in late winter or early spring are more likely to develop schizophrenia. 

Miami University of Ohio

It has been found that any infection that a mother during pregnancy is likely to affect the child and cause unwanted effects. Some of them are: 

 The child of a pregnant women who contracts influenza in the first trimester of pregnancy is 7 times more likely to develop schizophrenia.

- Correlation between late winter/early spring babies and increase in development of schizophrenia.

 - If mother and the child have incompatible blood types, it increases the risk of developing this disorder

  - If mother develops diabetes or if the baby has low birth weight, the baby is more likely to develop schizophrenia

- Even low oxygen to the baby due to birth complications can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. 

Environmental Stress: Prenatal Stress and Maternal Infection 

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

How Maternal Infection affects the development of Schizophrenia in babies

A researcher is comparing the prenatal histories of two individuals. Based on the information below, determine which individual has a statistically higher likelihood of developing schizophrenia later in life and explain which specific factors contribute to this increased risk.

Prenatal Risk Factor Analysis

Read the following patient history. Analyze the information and identify at least two factors from the prenatal period or birth process that research has associated with an increased statistical risk for developing schizophrenia later in life. For each factor you identify, briefly explain the connection.

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