Published in
Cambridge University Press, British Journal of Psychiatry, 2(195), p. 100-101, 2009
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.062828
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Do prenatal risk factors cause psychiatric disorder? Be wary of causal claims
Journal article published in 2009 by
Anita Thapar 
,
Michael Rutter
,
Michael Rutter
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
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Abstract
SummaryMany prenatal risk factors are known to have adverse consequences on fetal development and there is increasing interest in effects on the mental health of offspring. However, associations with prenatal risk factors may arise because of postnatal risk or through confounders, including inherited ones. As a result, caution is required in assuming causation.