Fetal alcohol damage and schizophrenia.

The case of a 15 year old girl with fetal alcohol damage and schizophrenia is presented. Because fetal exposure to alcohol may produce brain damage, itself associated with increased vulnerability for schizophrenia, and because chronic exposure to alcohol may lead to a symptomatic schizophrenic illness, prospective study of children with fetal alcohol damage is needed to determine whether they are at greater risk for the later development of schizophrenia.