Schizophrenia polygenic risk score and long-term success in the labour market: A cohort study

Jutta Viinikainen; Petri Böckerman; Christian Hakulinen; Jaana T Kari; Terho Lehtimäki; Olli T Raitakari; Jaakko Pehkonen

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.041

Schizophrenia polygenic risk score and long-term success in the labour market: A cohort study

J Psychiatr Res. 2022 Jul:151:638-641. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.041. Epub 2022 May 26.

Authors

Jutta Viinikainen¹, Petri Böckerman², Christian Hakulinen³, Jaana T Kari⁴, Terho Lehtimäki⁵, Olli T Raitakari⁶, Jaakko Pehkonen⁷

Affiliations

¹ University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Electronic address: jutta.viinikainen@jyu.fi.
² University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland; Labour Institute for Economic Research, Arkadiankatu 7, FI-00100, Helsinki, Finland; IZA Institute of Labor Economics, Schaumburg-Lippe-Straße 5-9, 53113, Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: petri.bockerman@labore.fi.
³ University of Helsinki, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, P.O. Box 21, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: christian.hakulinen@helsinki.fi.
⁴ University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Electronic address: jaana.t.kari@jyu.fi.
⁵ Tampere University, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Kalevantie 4, 33100, Tampere, Finland; Fimlab Laboratories, Arvo Ylpön katu 4, 33520, Tampere, Finland; Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Kalevantie 4, 33100, Tampere, Finland; Tampere University, Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Kalevantie 4, 33100, Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: terho.lehtimaki@tuni.fi.
⁶ University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Centre for Population Health Research, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland; University of Turku, Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: olli.raitakari@utu.fi.
⁷ University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Electronic address: jaakko.k.pehkonen@jyu.fi.

PMID: 35661520
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.041

Abstract

Employment is rare among people with a schizophrenia diagnosis. Meanwhile, a genetic liability for schizophrenia may hinder labour market performance. We studied how the polygenic risk score (PGS) for schizophrenia related to education and labour market outcomes. We found that a higher PGS was linked to lower educational levels and weaker labour market outcomes as well as a higher likelihood of receiving social income transfers, particularly among men. Assuming that the link is causal, our results indicate that individuals with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-related traits have a weakened ability to fully participate in the labour market, potentially reinforcing social exclusion.

Keywords: Earnings; Education; Employment; Polygenic risk score; Schizophrenia; Social income transfers.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cohort Studies
Educational Status
Employment
Humans
Male
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia* / genetics