Children of Holocaust survivors face higher schizophrenia risk, Israeli study finds

A new Israeli study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that children born to Holocaust survivors, specifically those whose mothers were over five years old during Nazi persecutions, face a more than two-fold increased risk of schizophrenia. The research, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, analyzed data from the Jerusalem Perinatal Study (1964-1976) linked to Israel's National Psychiatric Registry through 2004.

Our work underscores that war doesn't only have devastating immediate consequences; it also places a profound intergenerational burden on the future.

No elevated risk was found for offspring whose parents were five or younger at the time of persecution. While an initial link was seen with fathers, it became statistically insignificant after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, suggesting distinct maternal transmission pathways. The study's lead author, Prof. Hagit Hochner, emphasized that this indicates an increased risk, not a destiny, as most children of survivors do not develop schizophrenia. The findings highlight the long-term intergenerational impact of severe preconception trauma and its relevance to other global conflicts.