AP31963

Science Summary

This is a study based on Schizophrenics, being at at greater risk of getting diseases. Researchers has long known that people with autoimmune diseases such as, hepatitis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis are at greater risk of developing schizophrenia. In contrast to that belief, new research states that people suffering from schizophrenia have an increased risk of contracting autoimmune diseases, especially if they suffered from a severe infection. Michael E. Benros, MD. and PhD, senior researcher at Aarhus University and Psychiatric Center Copenhagen and researcher did a study in collaboration. Which was based on data covering the majority of Danish population. In the study researchers examine a large group of people consisting of 3.83 million Danes. From 1987 to 2010, 39,364 peoples were diagnosed with schizophrenia, while 142,328 peoples were diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Researchers find out that a person with schizophrenia has a 53% higher risk of contracting an autoimmune disease compared to people not suffering from schizophrenia and if you have schizophrenia and have been hospitalized or received treatment for severe infections, you have a 2.7 times higher risk of getting an autoimmune disease. This data was able to show certain correlations with certainty, but doesn't prove a explanation why schizophrenia has an increased risk of contracting the disease. (Barrett's Law #7) Michael E. Benros suggest that infections are determining factors. One explanation are related to lifestyles and genetics, but researchers doesn't bring clear results (Barrett's Law #7). Researches are trying to further examine interaction between gene and environment to closer explain the correlation between schizophrenia and autoimmune disease.

References:

The above story is based on materials provided by **Aarhus University**. The original article was written by Nina Hermansen. //Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.//
 * Story Source:**


 * Journal Reference**:
 * 1) Michael E. Benros, Marianne G. Pedersen, Helle Rasmussen, William W. Eaton, Merete Nordentoft, Preben B. Mortensen. **A Nationwide Study on the Risk of Autoimmune Diseases in Individuals With a Personal or a Family History of Schizophrenia and Related Psychosis**. //American Journal of Psychiatry//, 2014; 171 (2): 218 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13010086

Aarhus University. "Schizophrenics at greater risk of getting diseases." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 February 2014. .

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