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Ghalaeiha A, Rahimi A, Matinnia N, Shamsaei F, Zarrabiyan M, Farzan F et al . Survey of birth season in schizophrenic patients hospitalized in Sina hospital of Hamedan city between 1999-2004. J Birjand Univ Med Sci. 2008; 15 (3) :73-77
URL: http://journal.bums.ac.ir/article-1-346-en.html

Background and Aim: Birth rate of patients with schizophrenia during the winter and spring months is 5%-8% higher worldwide than their rate in the general population, although the reasons are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine birth season of schizophrenic patients hospitalized in Sina hospital of Hamedan city between 1999 and 2004. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive- analytical (cross-sectional) study, 645 schizophrenic cases who had been hospitalized in Sina psychiatric center of Hamedan city between 1999 and 2004 and their disorder had been determined based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria (DSM-IV) were surveyed. Means of data collection was a questionnaire consisting of personal history queries and queries regarding the aims of the study. The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS (10) software and using descriptive-inferential statistics at the significant level P≤0.05. Results: The subjects included 381 men and 273 women. Most cases had been born in spring (46.2%) and winter (31.8%), and the least births (7.6%) belonged to summer. Conclusion: The results showed the effects of seasonal variations on the occurrence of schizophrenic patients’ births as their births had a higher frequency in spring and winter rather than in summer and autumn.