Variability of ecological executive function in children and adolescents genetically at high risk for schizophrenia: a latent class analysis

Executive impairments have been observed both in patients with schizophrenia and in their unaffected first-degree relatives. Very few studies have investigated neurocognitive subgroups in unaffected first-degree relatives and in healthy participants using data-driven methods. The study included a high-risk group consisting of 100 unaffected young offspring and siblings of patients with schizophrenia and 198 healthy controls, all aged between 9 and 23 years. Executive function, victimization, and emotional and behavioral problems of participants were assessed by a series of self-report scales. Neurocognitive subgroups were investigated using latent class analysis of executive function measures. Four neurocognitive clusters were identified: a good performance cluster, a good self-control cluster, a low self-control cluster, and a severe impairment cluster. Participants in severe impaired executive function cluster reported a significantly higher level of victimization and had more prominent emotional and behavioral problems than the good performance cluster. Neurocognitive differences between high-risk young people and healthy controls were driven by individuals who have severe and global, rather than selective, executive deficits. Our results may provide clues to an explanation of the mechanisms behind executive impairments in young individuals at genetic risk and help to identify new targets for early interventions.