Smoking in pregnancy linked to psychosis in offspring

Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are putting their children at greater risk of psychotic symptoms, a study suggests. The survey of nearly 6,500 12-year-olds found those whose mothers had smoked were 20% more likely to experience psychotic symptoms. The link was 84% more pronounced if 20 or more cigarettes a day were smoked. The researchers found no association between cannabis use in pregnancy and psychotic symptoms in offspring, but as cannabis use was uncommon in the cohort, power to detect any association with this exposure was reduced. However, maternal alcohol use showed a non-linear association with psychotic symptoms, with the children of mothers who drank more than 22 units having a higher chance of psychotic episodes. “Future studies of how in utero exposure to tobacco affects cerebral development and function may lead to increased understanding of the pathogenesis of psychotic phenomena,” the authors concluded. B J Psych 2009; 195: 294-300....