Press releases

Research news and events

Mother's stress in early pregnancy may put baby at risk of schizophrenia

Research from our Manchester research centre, St Mary's Hospital, has discovered that women exposed to severe levels of stress, such as those caused by the death of a close relative, during the first trimester of pregnancy, may have an increased risk of schizophrenia in the unborn child. The paper was published in the Archives of Psychiatry on Tuesday 5th February.

The key findings of the population based study showed that the risk of schizophrenia was increased in offspring whose mothers were exposed to the death of a relative during the first trimester of pregnancy. The death of a relative during the other trimesters or up to six months before the pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia.

These findings were consistent with other pieces of evidence from whole populations exposed to severe stressors.

The results suggest that uterine environment may influence the neurodevelopment of the fetus and the first trimester of pregnancy is the most important stage of this particular development.

Professor Philip Baker,  one of our leading researchers, said: "Increasingly we are learning that the environment a baby is exposed to inside the womb is determining long-term health.

"This study shows that stress in the early stages increases the risk of a baby getting mental health problems.

"That very early stage, which some people don't pay enough attention to, is the most important determinant of how successful a pregnancy is going to be.

"These are quite new concepts but they are really changing the way we think about pregnancy and much longer-term effects on a baby's health."

However, Professor Baker said expectant women should not be anxious about mental illness affecting their children as a result of events over which they had no control.

"We don't want to over-worry people because the absolute risks are small," he added.

Please see the 'Further Information' box at the top of this page for the full report.

Vitamins in pre-eclampsia (VIP) trial results

A small trial, funded by Tommy’s, found that the incidence of pre-eclampsia was dramatically decreased (by more than 50%) in high-risk women if they took high doses of vitamins C and E compared with high-risk women who did not take the vitamins.  Following these results the Tommy’s research team at St Thomas’ Hospital in London gained funding for a large clinical trial to assess if this finding was true and could be proven in a larger trial. The Vitamins in Pre-eclampsia (VIP) trial recruited more than 2,400 women who were at high-risk of developing pre-eclampsia – giving half of them high doses of vitamins C and E and the other half placebo (dummy) tablets.  These women started taking the tablets between 14 and 22 weeks of pregnancy and took them every day until they had their babies.

The results of the trial (published in the high-profile medical journal The Lancet - to view the abstract click on this link http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS014067360668433X/abstract) show that these high doses of vitamins C and E do not prevent pre-eclampsia in high-risk women, actually increasing the chances of having a low-birthweight baby, although the likely affect on their long-term health is negligible. This result means that women at high risk of developing pre-eclampsia should not take high doses of vitamins C and E in pregnancy.  The small doses of vitamins found in pregnancy-specific multivitamin preparations may infer a slight benefit to the outcome of the pregnancy. To view the press release about this Tommy's research project, download the document from the Further Information box at the top right of this page.

New Tommy's research shows antibiotic does not prevent preterm labour

Tommy's researchers from the Maternal and Fetal Research Unit at St Thomas' Hospital in London have released results from a clinical trial (PREMET), showing that a commonly prescribed antibiotic, metronidazole, does not help prevent preterm labour and may increase the risk of preterm labour for high-risk women. To view the press release about this Tommy's research project, download the document from the Further Information box at the top right of this page.

Australian study discovers miscarriage trigger

Researchers in Australia have confirmed results from an earlier study which could lead to treatment to prevent miscarriages. The study found that women who miscarried had a much lower lever of protein, which regulates the growth of placenta in pregnant women. To view the Tommy's statement about this new research, download the document from the Further Information box at the top right of this page.

To read more from Tommy's please click here to go to our press releases page.