Childhood and adolescent schizophrenic, bipolar, and schizoaffective disorders: a clinical and outcome study

Fifty-nine child and adolescent psychotic patients (mean onset age 13.9, range 7-17, 83% 13 + years) had history and outcome studied using diagnoses confirmed at follow-up after 1 to 16 years (mean, 5 years). There were no differences in sex ratio, socioeconomic status, age of onset, and symptoms, but bipolar patients (N = 23) were often misdiagnosed as schizophrenic, had a better outcome, and a 50% homotypic family history. Schizophrenic subjects (N = 30) were more abnormal premorbidly, and only 17% were well at follow-up. Schizoaffective disorder was unreliable, infrequent, and more severe. Premorbid adjustment and IQ were the best predictors of outcome. Differences from the adult disorders were only quantitative. Careful follow-up of psychotic patients is needed to detect diagnostic errors.     

Acute and transient psychotic disorders versus persistent delusional disorders: a comparative longitudinal study

Aim: The aim of this work is to investigate differences between two non‐schizophrenic, non‐organic psychotic disorders, namely persistent delusional disorders (PDD) and acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD) according to ICD‐10. Method: In a prospective and longitudinal study, we compared all 43 inpatients with PDD who were treated at Halle‐Wittenberg University Hospital during a 14‐year period to a previously investigated cohort of 41 patients with ATPD in regard to demography, long‐term symptomatic outcome, and social consequences. Sociobiographical data were collected using a semi‐structured interview. Follow‐up investigations were performed at a mean of 10–12 years after the onset of the disorder using standardized instruments. Results: With the exception of the duration of the psychotic symptoms, the PDD patients were significantly different from the ATPD patients on various levels, such as sex ratio (female predominance only in ATPD), age at onset (older in PDD), the number of preceding stressful life‐events in the index hospitalization (more frequent in ATPD), richness and variety of symptoms (higher in ATPD), and persistence of positive psychotic symptoms (in PDD). Patients with PDD had significantly less re‐hospitalizations during the course of their illness. Long‐term outcome was marked by chronicity of delusional symptoms and lower global functioning in PDD than in ATPD, while negative symptoms and loss of independence were infrequent in both conditions. Conclusions: PDD differs from ATPD not only in the duration of the psychotic symptoms, but also in a variety of significant variables. They appear to be two separate entities within a psychotic spectrum.     

Olanzapine therapy in treatment-resistant psychotic mood disorders: a long-term follow-up study

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest a role for the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine in the acute treatment of psychotic mood disorders, but long-term data are unavailable. The purpose of this naturalistic study was to determine the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of olanzapine as add-on therapy in psychotic mood disorders. METHOD: Hospital records were reviewed for 125 inpatients at the state psychiatric hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., who received at least 6 weeks of add-on olanzapine treatment for psychotic mood disorders (schizoaffective disorders [bipolar and depressive type], bipolar disorders [I, II, and NOS], and major depressive disorder). A group of schizophrenic patients served as a control group (N = 50). Baseline measures, including age, gender, number of hospitalizations in the 2 years prior to olanzapine treatment, concomitant medications, the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI), and the Global Assessment of Functioning-Equivalent (GAF-EQ) and Kennedy Axis V psychological impairment, violence, social skills, and activities of daily living subscale scores, were obtained. Follow-up information was obtained from the patients at least 6 months after initiation of olanzapine or by chart review and discussion with the treating psychiatrist. Patients with a diagnosis of psychotic mood disorders were compared with patients with the non-affective psychotic disorder (schizophrenia) on a variety of outcome measures. RESULTS: Follow-up information was available on 102 patients (82%). Mean follow-up was 15 months; 50 (49%) of the 102 patients remained on olanzapine treatment at follow-up (32 psychotic mood disorder, 18 schizophrenic). The primary reason for discontinuation in both groups was lack of response. Both the psychotic mood disorder and schizophrenic groups had comparable outcomes on the CGI and GAF-EQ. Improvement on the Kennedy Axis V psychological impairment and social skills subscales was seen only in the psychotic mood disorders group (p < .01); both groups showed significant (p < .02) improvement in the violence subscale. Sustained mood-stabilizing effect was evident in only 7/27 (26%) of the psychotic mood disorders patients continuing on add-on olanzapine treatment at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Lack of response was the primary reason for discontinuation of add-on olanzapine in both groups. Mood symptoms predicted a better response to add-on olanzapine in patients with psychotic mood disorders on selective outcome measures. However, only 26% of the patients with psychotic mood disorders sustained a clinically meaningful mood-stabilizing effect with add-on olanzapine treatment at follow-up.     

Early onset psychotic disorders: Diagnostic stability and clinical characteristics

To examine the clinical features and diagnostic stability of early-onset psychotic disorders. These data are from a two-year longitudinal prospective study of youth with psychotic disorders. Standardized diagnostic assessments are administered at baseline and at one and two-year’s follow-up. Fifty-one subjects have been recruited to date; 18 with schizophrenia, 14 with bipolar disorder, 7 with schizoaffective disorder, 1 with an organic psychosis, and 11 subjects whose symptoms where either questionable and/or did not meet diagnostic criteria for another disorder (classified as psychosis nos). Thirty-nine subjects were reassessed at year one, twenty-four at year two. Three subjects have been lost to follow-up. The study diagnosis was the same as the first onset diagnosis (prior to entering the study) in 50% of subjects. Over the two-year period of the study, the diagnosis remained unchanged in over 90% of subjects. Subjects with schizophrenia had higher ratings of premorbid impairment, including social withdrawal and dysfunctional peer relationships, than those with bipolar disorder. At the one-year follow-up, subjects with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder had significantly higher rates of delusions, bizarre behavior, and negative symptoms than those with bipolar disorder. Subjects with bipolar disorder tended to have cyclical courses, whereas those with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were often chronically impaired. Subjects with psychosis nos had higher rates of dissociative symptoms and histories of child maltreatment Early-onset psychotic disorders can be reliably diagnosed using standardized assessments and are stable over a two-year period. Compared to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia is associated with a poorer premorbid history, and persistent positive and negative symptoms.     

Early onset psychotic disorders: Diagnostic stability and clinical characteristics

Objectives: To examine the clinical features and diagnostic stability of early-onset psychotic disorders. Methods: These data are from a two-year longitudinal prospective study of youth with psychotic disorders. Standardized diagnostic assessments are administered at baseline and at one and two-year's follow-up. Results: Fifty-one subjects have been recruited to date; 18 with schizophrenia, 14 with bipolar disorder, 7 with schizoaffective disorder, 1 with an organic psychosis, and 11 subjects whose symptoms where either questionable and/or did not meet diagnostic criteria for another disorder (classified as psychosis nos). Thirty-nine subjects were reassessed at year one, twenty-four at year two. Three subjects have been lost to follow-up. The study diagnosis was the same as the first onset diagnosis (prior to entering the study) in 50 % of subjects. Over the two-year period of the study, the diagnosis remained unchanged in over 90 % of subjects. Subjects with schizophrenia had higher ratings of premorbid impairment, including social withdrawal and dysfunctional peer relationships, than those with bipolar disorder. At the one-year follow-up, subjects with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder had significantly higher rates of delusions, bizarre behavior, and negative symptoms than those with bipolar disorder. Subjects with bipolar disorder tended to have cyclical courses, whereas those with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were often chronically impaired. Subjects with psychosis nos had higher rates of dissociative symptoms and histories of child maltreatment. Conclusions: Early-onset psychotic disorders can be reliably diagnosed using standardized assessments and are stable over a two-year period. Compared to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia is associated with a poorer premorbid history, and persistent positive and negative symptoms.     

Clinical correlates of first-episode polarity in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and long-term implications of mood polarity at illness onset. METHODS: During a 10-year follow-up prospective study, systematic clinical and outcome data were collected from 300 bipolar I and II patients. The sample was split into 2 groups according to the polarity of the onset episode (depressive onset [DO] vs manic/hypomanic onset [MO]). Clinical features and social functioning were compared between the 2 groups of patients. RESULTS: In our sample, 67% of the patients experienced a depressive onset. Depressive onset patients were more chronic than MO patients, with a higher number of total episodes and a longer duration of illness. Depressive onset patients experienced a higher number of depressive episodes than MO patients, who in turn had more manic episodes. Depressive onset patients made more suicide attempts, had a later illness onset, were less often hospitalized, and were less likely to develop psychotic symptoms. Depressive onset was more prevalent among bipolar II patients. Bipolar I patients with DO had more axis II comorbidity and were more susceptible to have a history of psychotic symptoms than bipolar II patients with DO. CONCLUSION: The polarity at onset is a good predictor of the polarity of subsequent episodes over time. A depressive onset is twice as frequent as MO and carries more chronicity and cyclicity.     

Children and adolescents with psychotic disorder not otherwise specified: a 2- to 8-year follow-up study.

Although psychotic phenomena in children with disruptive behavior disorders are more common than expected, their prognostic significance is unknown. To examine the outcome of pediatric patients with atypical psychoses, a group of 26 patients with transient psychotic symptoms were evaluated with clinical and structured interviews at the time of initial contact (mean age, 11.6 +/- 2.7 years) and at follow-up 2 to 8 years later. Measures of functioning and psychopathology were also completed at their initial assessment. Risk factors associated with adult psychotic disorders (familial psychopathology, eyetracking dysfunction in patients and their relatives, obstetrical complications, and premorbid developmental course in the proband) had been obtained at study entry. On follow-up examination (mean age, 15.7 +/- 3.4 years), 13 patients (50%) met diagnostic criteria for a major axis I disorder: three for schizoaffective disorder, four for bipolar disorder, and six for major depressive disorder. The remaining 13 patients again received a diagnosis of psychotic disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), with most being in remission from their psychotic symptoms. Among this group who had not developed a mood or psychotic disorder, disruptive behavior disorders were exceedingly common at follow-up and were the focus of their treatment. Higher initial levels of psychopathology, lower cognitive abilities, and more developmental motor abnormalities were found in patients with a poor outcome. Obstetrical, educational, and family histories did not differ significantly between the groups. Through systematic diagnostic evaluation, children and adolescents with atypical psychotic disorders can be distinguished from those with schizophrenia, a difference with important treatment and prognostic implications. Further research is needed to delineate the course and outcome of childhood-onset atypical psychoses, but preliminary data indicate improvement in psychotic symptoms in the majority of patients and the development of chronic mood disorders in a substantial subgroup.     

Cognitive deficits and levels of IQ in adolescent onset schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

Cognitive deficits have been found to be prevalent in early onset schizophrenia. Whether these deficits also characterise other early onset psychotic disorders to a similar degree is unclear, as very few comparative studies have been done. The primary purpose of this study was to compare the profile and severity of cognitive impairments in first-episode early onset psychotic patients who received the schizophrenia diagnosis to those diagnosed with other non-organic, non-affective psychotic disorders. The secondary purpose was to examine whether the profile of cognitive deficits, in terms of intelligence, executive functions, memory, attention and processing speed was global or specific. First-episode psychotic adolescents (N = 39) between the ages 11 and 17 years were included, 18 of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia, and 21 with other non-organic, non-affective psychoses, using ICD-10 criteria. A healthy control group (N = 40) was included, matched on gender and age. Cognitive functions were assessed using WISC-III/R, the CANTAB battery, WCST, Trail Making B, fluency tasks, and Buschke's selective reminding task. A similar profile and level of impairment was found on measures of attention, executive functions, reaction time, and memory in the schizophrenic and psychotic adolescent groups. However, analyses of WISC-III factor profiles suggested that early onset schizophrenia patients may have more global IQ deficits than non-organic, non-affective psychoses when examined recently after illness onset. Compared to the deficits of adult schizophrenia described in the literature, the results suggest relatively spared simple reaction times in early onset patients.     

The entorhinal cortex in first-episode psychotic disorders: a structural magnetic resonance imaging study

OBJECTIVE: Neuropathological findings regarding the entorhinal cortex in schizophrenia are conflicting. The authors used structural magnetic resonance imaging to examine the entorhinal cortex volumes of healthy subjects and medication-naive patients experiencing their first episode of psychotic illness. METHOD: The study included 33 patients with schizophrenia and related disorders, 11 patients with nonschizophrenic disorders, and 43 matched healthy subjects. All subjects were rated on the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and volumetric measurements of the entorhinal cortex were obtained for all subjects. The authors examined differences across the groups as well as clinical correlations of entorhinal cortex volumes adjusted for intracranial volume. RESULTS: A significant diagnosis effect was seen in the left entorhinal cortex: patients with schizophrenia and related disorders and patients with nonschizophrenic psychotic disorders had smaller left entorhinal cortex volumes than healthy subjects. The mean entorhinal cortex volume of patients with schizophrenic disorders did not differ from that of patients with nonschizophrenic psychotic disorders. In patients with schizophrenic disorders, the entorhinal cortex volume positively correlated with severity of delusions. The mean entorhinal cortex volume of patients with nondelusional psychotic disorders was significantly smaller than that of patients with delusional psychotic disorders and healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Smaller entorhinal cortex volume in first-episode, neuroleptic-naive psychotic disorders may not be a confound of the effects of illness chronicity or antipsychotic treatment. Entorhinal cortex pathology appears to have a significant association with positive symptoms, specifically delusions. The impairment of functions in which the entorhinal cortex participates-such as novelty detection, associative learning, and processing episodic, recognition, and autobiographical memory-could be responsible for its association with psychotic disorders and delusions.     

Mode of onset and two years outcome of a broad spectrum of affective disorders]

In recent years emphasis has tended to be placed on assessing and diagnosing low-grade affective disorders. If mild affective symptoms are also considered a broad spectrum of affective disorders, this spectrum can be seen, not only in the manifestation of major symptoms of such illnesses as manic-depressive illness, but also in symptoms of various mental disorders. The present study was undertaken to analyze the clinical features of a broad spectrum of affective disorders in a prospective follow-up study. Ninety mentally ill patients who visited our outpatient clinic were followed for 2 years, to investigate the mode of onset, the course and outcome of their disorders. Using a semistructured interview method specially developed for this survey, these patients were divided into a broad spectrum of affective disorder group and the other groups. Forty-nine patients were allocated to a spectrum of affective disorder group characterized by four-day (or longer) persistence of at least one of the following symptoms, depressed mood, loss of interest or elevated, expansive, or irritable mood. Of the forty-nine patients there were only two patients with manic symptoms. And the forty-seven patients with depressive symptoms were compared with the other groups as a main subject. The other groups were composed of eighteen patients with psychotic symptoms (the psychotic group) and 23 patients with neurotic symptoms (the neurotic group). The psychotic and neurotic groups did not satisfy the criteria shown above. There was no significant differences in male-to-female ratio or age between these three groups. When the mode of onset of symptoms were compared, the percentage of cases in whom symptoms could be identified early (within 10 days after onset) was 64.4% in the depressive group, 41.2% in the psychotic group and 30.4% in the neurotic group. The percentage of cases who remitted 2 years later was 70.2%, 38.9%, 45.5% in the depressive group, psychotic and neurotic groups, respectively. The GAS score (mean +/- SD), assessed 2 years later, was 76.2 +/- 12.5, 62.8 +/- 11.7, 78.2 +/- 9.9 points for these three groups, respectively. These results suggest that a broad spectrum of depressive disorders develops more acutely and patients with this spectrum are more likely to recover from symptoms and in function. Thus, the course of disorders was more favorable in the depressive group than in the psychotic group or the neurotic group.     

精神活性物质所致精神病性障碍的转归调查(英文)

背景 国内关于精神活性物质所致精神病性障碍的长期预后尚不清楚。目的 对因吸毒出现精神症状而曾住院治疗的患者,评估其精神症状的严重程度和病程。方法 于 2012 年对 2003 年至 2010 年期间首次在深圳市康宁医院住院、入院前 1 个月内曾非法使用过毒品、被诊断为精神活性物质所致精神病性障碍的患者进行随访,随访期为 13～108 个月。通过对患者及其同住的家庭成员的调查,了解患者出院后复吸情况及精神病性症状演变情况。结果 受调查的 258 例患者主要特点为年轻、男性、无业,主要使用的毒品为冰毒,入院时使用毒品的平均时间为 7 年。共 189 例完成随访,其中 168 例(89%)复吸,25例(13%)在随访期间再次住院。114例(60%)患者的精神症状在停吸 1 个月内缓解,56 例(30%)的精神症状持续 1～6 个月,19 例(10%)的精神症状持续存在超过 6 个月(其中 8 例的诊断改为精神分裂症)。与症状持续时间较短的其他两组相比,症状持续 6 个月以上这组存在精神疾病家族史的比例最高,开始吸毒的年龄最小,首次住院前毒品使用时间最长,随访期间再住院的比例最高,随访时存在精神症状的比例也最高。结论 多数精神活性物质所致精神病性障碍患者预后较好,但首次吸毒年龄小、吸毒年限长、存在精神疾病家族史者容易发展为慢性精神病。需要进一步开展前瞻性研究,以明确毒品的神经毒性作用与个体素质之间的相互关系在吸毒者出现慢性精神病中所起的作用。     

A comparison of DSM-IV brief psychotic disorder with "positive" schizophrenia and healthy controls

To determine the psychosocial features, course, and outcome of DSM-IV brief psychotic disorder (BPD) in a comparative study, we recruited a cohort of 26 consecutive inpatients fulfilling DSM-IV criteria of BPD as well as a control group with "positive" schizophrenia (PS) and psychiatrically healthy controls matched for age and sex. Demographic and clinical features were systematically evaluated and follow-up investigations were performed at an average of 2.1 years after the index episode or 7.8 years after onset of the disorder using standardized instruments. The index group of 26 cases represented 2.5% of 1,036 patients treated as inpatients for psychotic disorders or major affective episode during the 5-year inclusion period. Eighty-one percent of the BPD patients were female. Indicators of premorbid functioning slightly favored BPD patients. Age at first episode and episode frequency did not differentiate between BPD and PS patients. Relapse was frequent in both groups. At follow-up BPD patients had a significantly more favorable outcome than patients with PS as evidenced by employment, independent living, social role functioning, psychological impairment, and global functioning. As a group, in many respects BPD patients approached the status of psychiatrically healthy controls. DSM-IV BPD is a psychotic disorder of favorable prognosis despite frequent relapse.     

Clinical characteristics of bipolar I patients according to their family history of affective disorders

BACKGROUND: The familial nature of bipolar disorder has been well described and multiple genes are probably involved in most or all cases. Each gene contributes equally to a bipolar phenotype and it may contribute to clinical characteristics. However, the genetic transmission of bipolar disorder remained undetermined up to now, partly due to clinical and genetically heterogeneity. In Tunisia, genetic study will profit from specific interests and advantages: the high rates of consanguinity, the existence of large families, and the relative geographical stability of the population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics of familial and nonfamilial bipolar I disorder. METHOD: One hundred and thirty subjects met DSM-IV criteria for a bipolar I disorder; they were recruited and divided into groups according to their family history of affective disorders. Group 1 with a familial history group, comporting bipolar I patients with a family history of affective disorders in first and second degree relatives (n = 76; 52 males and 24 females, mean age = 37.2 +/- 10.7 years) was compared to group 2 (nonfamilial history group), comporting bipolar I patients without a family history of affective disorders (n = 54; 29 males and 25 females, mean age = 38.1 +/- 10.9 years). Available information was obtained from a structured clinical interview, collateral history, and medical records. The family investigation permitted completion of genealogies over three generations. The comparison of the two groups was based on the clinical characteristics (age at onset, numbers of affective episodes, nature and severity of the last affective episode,...). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning demographic and social features, with the exception of professional activity. Indeed 30.2% of patients with a family history of affective disorders were unemployed versus 12.9% of patients without a family history of affective disorders (p = 0.02). Bipolar I patients with a family history of affective disorders were characterised by an early age at onset of the first episode (before 20 years) (48.7 versus 24.0%; p = 0.004), a high frequency of affective episodes (8.1 +/- 3.6 versus 6.0 +/- 3.5; p = 0.002) and had been more often hospitalised than patients without a family history of affective disorders (5.7 +/- 3.0 versus 4.7 +/- 3.0; p = 0.06). No significant differences were found concerning the nature of the first affective episode in bipolar I patients with or without a family history of affective disorders. Eleven women had developed their first affective episode during the puerperal period; eight of whom had a family history of affective disorders (p = 0.07). The last affective episode was significantly more severe (94.8 versus 77.8%; p = 0.003) and more often associated with psychotic features (55.3 versus 35.2%; p = 0.02) in patients with a family history of affective disorders. After multiple regression, the high frequency of affective episodes and the severity of last episode were more related with a family history of affective disorders. CONCLUSION: The results of our study provide evidence of familiality for some clinical characteristics which can be useful as phenotypic measures in future molecular genetic studies.     

Depressive disorders and symptoms in older primary care patients: one-year outcomes.

Syndromically diagnosable and subsyndromal depressions have substantial prevalence and functional morbidity among older persons seen in primary care, but their naturalistic outcome is largely unknown. The authors describe depressive symptoms and syndromes and functional outcomes at 1-year follow-up and examine specific outcome predictors in a cohort study using psychopathological, medical, and functional assessments at intake and 1-year follow-up. Subjects were 247 patients over age 60, recruited from private internal medicine offices and a university-affiliated family medicine clinic. Multiple-regression techniques examined the independent association of intake variables to outcome measures. Of the 63 subjects with an active depression diagnosis at study intake, 36 (57%) still had an active depression diagnosis at 1 year. The outcome for major depression was worse than for minor or subsyndromal depression. Medical illness burden and neuroticism were independent predictors of outcome. Major depression and depressive symptom severity were independently associated with poorer social functioning at follow-up. Depressive conditions had considerable rates of persistence, yet the outcome was not uniformly poor. Longer-term naturalistic study is needed, as are treatment studies targeting those at highest risk of recurrence or chronicity.     

Demographic, historical, and symptomatic features of the nonmanic psychoses

Consecutively admitted patients with nonmanic psychosis were more likely to meet Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for schizoaffective disorder, depressed type (N = 47), than for psychotic major depression (N = 29) or schizophrenia (N = 21). Although the RDC duration requirements for these three disorders are quite similar, schizophrenics had already experienced much more chronicity as reflected in episode duration, psychosocial impairment during the preceding 5 years, marital status, and low likelihood of prior remission. Schizoaffective patients took intermediate positions in these measures in accord with the majority of follow-up studies comparing these disorders. Although the RDC specify the same array of psychotic symptoms for schizoaffectives and for schizophrenics, these symptoms were significantly more prominent among the schizophrenics. Conversely, although this system also specifies the same list of depressive symptoms for major depression and schizoaffective depression, symptoms of endogenous depression were significantly more prominent in the major depression group. Thus, among functionally psychotic patients, those with schizophrenia-like symptoms have milder and less typical depressive symptoms whereas those with depressive syndromes have fewer and milder schizophrenia-like symptoms.     

Neuroprotection in emerging psychotic disorders

Aim: The emerging phase of psychotic disorders is pleomorphic and fluctuates in presentation. Hence, from a clinical perspective, treatment modalities are often unclear. This paper investigates the rational and potential use of neuroprotective agents in emerging psychotic disorders. Methods: Medline databases were searched from 1966 to 2006 followed by the cross‐checking of references using following keywords: neuroprotection, apoptosis, natural cell death, neurodevelopment, plasticity, neurogenesis, combined with brain and schizophrenia. Results: Agents such as atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, omega‐3 fatty acids, modulators of glutamateric neurotransmission (e.g. ampakines, glycine, memantine), erythropoietin, N‐acetylcysteine, COX‐2 inhibitors or antioxidants have neuroprotective (anti‐apoptotic) properties and may therefore be able to protect brain maturational processes disturbed in emerging psychotic disorders. Clinical trials suggest that atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, omega‐3 fatty acids and low‐dose lithium as sole treatments were able to improve symptoms and functioning, and delay or in some cases even prevent the onset of frank psychosis. Initially these substances have been chosen because they have been used either as sole or augmentation treatments in established psychotic disorders. However, chronicity and already effective treatments may overshadow their potential clinical use in emerging (prodromal) psychosis. Conclusion: Neuroprotection as a new treatment paradigm for at‐risk mental states seems to be promising and pilot data are suggestive that more benign interventions may already be sufficient to delay or even prevent the onset of frank psychosis. A coordinated research effort will be necessary to address the question which agents should be used under which circumstances.     

A longitudinal study of schizophrenia in adolescence. I. The one- to three-year outcome

In an attempt to evaluate retrospectively the three-year course and outcome of treated adolescent schizophrenics, the medical data of 19 patients were collected from the first admissions over a period of 10 years (1971-1981). According to the DSM-III criteria, 17 were diagnosed as having schizophrenic disorders and the remaining 2 were schizophreniform disorders. The outcome at the time of first- to third-year follow-up was assessed on the outcome rating scale. The three-year outcome was favorable with respect to both the length of hospitalization and the presence of psychotic symptoms. However, there was a sustained impairment in occupational (or scholastic) functioning throughout the three-year follow-up period. The female sex and the initial diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder might be factors affecting the good third-year clinical (or symptomatic) outcome. The younger age at onset, the longer duration of the prodromal phase, and the longer period of time between the onset and the first presentation appeared to predict the poor third-year occupational outcome.     

A Longitudinal Study of Schizophrenia in Adolescence: I. The One- to Three-Year Outcome

Abstract: In an attempt to evaluate retrospectively the three-year course and outcome of treated adolescent schizophrenics, the medical data of 19 patients were collected from the first admissions over a period of 10 years (1971-1981). According to the DSM-III criteria, 17 were diagnosed as having schizophrenic disorders and the remaining 2 were schizophreniform disorders. The outcome at the time of first- to third-year follow-up was assessed on the outcome rating scale. The three-year outcome was favorable with respect to both the length of hospitalization and the presence of psychotic symptoms. However, there was a sustained impairment in occupational (or scholastic) functioning throughout the three-year follow-up period. The female sex and the initial diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder might be factors affecting the good third-year clinical (or symptomatic) outcome. The younger age at onset, the longer duration of the prodromal phase, and the longer period of time between the onset and the first presentation appeared to predict the poor third-year occupational outcome.     

The 22q11.2 deletion in children: high rate of autistic disorders and early onset of psychotic symptoms

OBJECTIVE: To examine psychopathology and influence of intelligence level on psychiatric symptoms in children with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). METHOD: Sixty patients, ages 9 through 18 years, were evaluated. Assessments followed standard protocols, including structured and semistructured interviews of parents, videotaped psychiatric interview, and intelligence assessment of the child. Intelligence level, psychiatric symptoms, and classification provided the main outcome. RESULTS: High rates of autism spectrum disorders (30 of 60, 50.0%) and psychotic symptoms (16 of 60, 26.7%) were found in this sample. In 7 of 60 (11.7%), the psychotic symptoms interfered with behavior and caused considerable distress. In these cases, the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder was applied. The average age of the children with psychotic symptoms at time of assessment was 14.2 years. Although it is likely that the high rate of psychopathology in this sample is to some extent associated with the lower level of cognitive function, a major effect of the degree of cognitive impairment on psychiatric morbidity was not found. CONCLUSION: Autism spectrum disorders and subthreshold autistic symptomatology are common in children with 22q11DS. Furthermore, a high rate of psychosis and psychotic symptoms is found in this childhood sample, suggesting an early onset of psychosis in 22q11DS patients. Autistic and psychotic disorders should be considered to be main elements of the behavioral phenotype of 22q11DS children.