the relationship between birth order, family size and schizophernia in iran

archives of 228 patients hospitalized at psychiatric centers of iran university of medical sciences during the period 1994-1995. with the diagnosis of schizophernia were reviewed and data on birth order and family size were collected. results showed that there was no significant relationship between disrtibution of illness and birth order. most of patiennts were the last child – usually 9th or more. in small-size families, there was no significant difference between early and late born children, but in families with more than 4 children , patients belonged to late – born group.