No relationship between risk of schizophrenia and prenatal exposure to stress during the Six-Day War or Yom Kippur War in Israel

Abstract

Aim: Maternal stress during pregnancy is a possible risk factor for schizophrenia in the offspring. Using data from the Israel Psychiatric Registry we examined the impact of wars in Israel. Method: Retrospective birth cohort study. Results: Relative risks for cohorts exposed to Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.85–1.13) and 1.00 (0.86–1.16). Conclusion: The evidence for maternal stress as a risk factor for schizophrenia remains insufficient.