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RESEARCH WEEKLY: Infections During Pregnancy and Risk of Child Psychotic Disorders

A bacterial infection during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for
development of a psychotic disorder in the child, according to a new analysis of
data from a family study conducted in New England in the 1950s.
The role of infections in developing psychosis has been written about frequently
in these Research Weekly [[link removed]]
blogs, in part due to the Treatment Advocacy Center founder Dr. E. Fuller Torrey's
role in conducting this important research. Previous blogs highlighted the effects
of infection by the parasite toxoplasma gondii [[link removed]]
in increasing risk for psychosis in individuals, as well as the effect of viral
infections such as the Epstein-Barr virus [[link removed]].
However, bacterial infections have also been shown to have some association with
an increased risk for developing a mental illness, due to the role of the immune
system in fighting off these foreign invaders in the body. In addition, although
there has been some research on the role of immune system activation in a pregnant
mother and the subsequent risk of psychosis in their child, investigation on the
role of maternal bacterial infection is limited.
Animal model studies allow research into complex biological processes over time
that is not possible in humans. Previous animal model research has shown that bacterial
infection in a pregnant mother can cause changes to both the structure and function
of the offspring's fetal brain, which after birth shows behaviors and biological
differences similar to humans with psychotic disorders. Therefore, real-world research
into the role of maternal infections on the risk of developing psychosis in the
child is needed, as well as examining if there is a gradient effect on the severity
of infection during pregnancy.
Results
The study authors utilized data from the New England Family Study that tracked more
than 15,000 births from 1959 and 1966. Health records of the mothers were examined
for history of infections during pregnancy, and follow-ups of the children, who
are now in their 50s, were conducted.
Mothers who had a bacterial infection during pregnancy were 1.6 times more likely
to have a child that later developed a psychotic disorder, according to the results.
Mothers that had an infection during pregnancy that affected multiple organ systems
had a more than three-fold greater odds of having a child who later developed a
psychotic disorder. The authors write that these findings further support the role
of infections and the immune system, especially infections during pregnancy, in
the etiology of psychotic disorders.
Implications
These results have important implications as bacterial infections during pregnancy,
such as urinary tract infections, are common due to physiological changes to the
body during pregnancy and can often go undiagnosed because the symptoms are not
obvious. Therefore, there is a vital role of public health in preventing infections
during pregnancy and in promoting early diagnosis and treatment when they do occur.
The study authors suggest more research is needed to understand the short- and long-term
effects of infections during pregnancy as well as the effect of antibiotic medication
use in pregnant mothers on both the mother and child.
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References:

*

Lee, Y. H., et al. (2019, October). Maternal bacterial infection during pregnancy
and offspring risk of psychotic disorders: Variation by severity of infection and
offspring sex. [[link removed]]The
American Journal of Psychiatry.
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Elizabeth Sinclair
Director of Research
Treatment Advocacy Center
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Research Weekly is a summary published as a public service of the Treatment Advocacy
Center and does not necessarily reflect the findings or positions of the organization
or its staff. Full access to research summarized may require a fee or paid subscription
to the publications.
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The Treatment Advocacy Center does not solicit or accept funds from pharmaceutical
companies.
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