Would you be in favor of a public health campaign linking older fathers and schizophrenia?

Question

Why yes? Why No? The average paternal age is increasing should we all know the risks?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/22/1098316861757.html#
http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/... http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/520009?src=mp
http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/60/10/851

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnhA082ixuJcd2kEPQpgZZnsy6IX?qid=20061115101605AAs6F4Q

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/159/9/1528.pdf http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/sci/0401/bloldsz401.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Link&db=PubMed&dbFrom=PubMed&from_uid=16973530

http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/older.htm

Answer 1

Sure, but where is your proof of this? I have a psych degree and am working on my masters, and have never heard anything about this. If there is good evidence, then of course the public should know.

Answer 2

Statistically, the increase in risk per advancement in age is quite small. There are probably other factors significantly more important to alert the public about.

Additional excellent reference:

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/159/9/1528?maxtoshow=&HITS=&hits=&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=schizophrenia&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=20&resourcetype=HWCIT#T1

Answer 3

I 'm not sure I understand the question - any stats can be manipulated to prove almost anything. There is no concrete proof that schizophrenia is caused by older fathers or older mothers. Schizophrenia is used as a generic term covering many mental illnesses and conditions. People mean different things when they say someone is schizophrenic. In reality, it is an awful illness. Any health campaign that improves our health or of the unborn must be good, but it must be supported by hard facts not theory. Why not visit a web site about schizophrenia and medical trials - it might put things into perspective.

Answer 4

If is is true then sure. We are all told of the dangers of older mothers why not include the men.
We should have access to all the risks. (as long as they are real)