Schizophrenic Mothers At Greater Risk of Complications During Pregnancy: Study

A recent study reveals that women with schizophrenia are likely to face greater pregnancy related complications.

The collaborative study conducted by researchers at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and Women's College Hospital states that pregnant women with schizophrenia are twice as likely to suffer from pre-eclampsia and pre-term birth and other complications compared to women without the condition.

"Traditionally, women with schizophrenia have had low fertility rates and little attention was paid to their reproductive health," said Dr. Simon Vigod, lead author of the study, in a press release, reported in eurekalert. "But recently, with fertility rates on the rise among these women, we must now turn our attention to ensuring their reproductive health and that of their babies."

The researchers studied women in Ontario, aged 15 to 49, who had either given still or live births between 2002 and 2011.

They found that women with schizophrenia before pregnancy were three times more likely to suffer from diabetes mellitus (3.9 percent) chronic hypertension (3.7 percent) and thromboembolic disease (1.7 percent) compared to non-schizophrenic women.

The researchers also found that schizophrenic women are at risk of placental abruption and septic shock, and more likely to need induced and caesarean delivery and also require intensive post-operative care.

Preterm births and health complications in newborns:

Schizophrenic women are more likely give birth to preterm babies with abnormal birth weight and higher incidences of neonatal morbidity are reported.

Mortality rate:

Schizophrenic women were five times more at risk of death a year after giving birth.

According to the researchers, the current study will help the health experts to have a better understanding of the complications faced by schizophrenic mothers and to take preventive measures accordingly.