Statistical Sleuthing During Epidemics: Maternal Influenza and Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is among the most debilitating of mental illnesses (NARSAD 2003). Although relatively rare, affecting less than 1% of the population, this form of psychosis is the focus of a great deal of study due to its etiological complexity and its devastating social, economic, and personal effects. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that schizophrenia is responsible for 2.3 million lost years of healthy life in America (NIMH 2001) and there is a huge economic cost burden associated with the disease [$7 billion dollars for treatment annually in the U.S., by one estimate (Bromet 1995)]. Schizophrenics typically experience frightening hallucinations or bizarre and persistent delusions, sometimes in conjunction with paranoia. Many have disorganized thought and speech patterns and have absent or diminished outward emotional expression. While recent advances in psychopharmacology offer relief of some symptoms, schizophrenia remains an incurable, lifelong illness and most patients remain impaired to a large degree. Is schizophrenia related to birthdate? This article presents data and possible confounding variables.