Birthweights of male and female schizoprenics' offspring.

The live birthweights and the birthweight Z score equivalents based upon state averages of 130 offspring of male and female schizophrenics were compared with state averages and with those of 150 offspring of nonschizophrenic psychiatric patient controls. Offspring of schizophrenics resembled the controls and the state averages with few exceptions. Schizophrenic fathers produced heavier birthweight children and the expected proportion of lower birthweight children. Offspring of schizophrenics born a year or more before onset of the parental disorder were significantly heavier than control offspring, although groups did not differ when birth was near or after breakdown.