Related Experiment Videos
Axis-I disorders and vulnerability to psychosis
Tanja Svirskis1, Jyrki Korkeila, Markus Heinimaa
1University of Turku, Department of Psychiatry, Kunnallissairaalantie 20 rak., 9 20700 Turku, Finland. tapasu@utu.fi
Schizophrenia Research
|May 12, 2005
Summary
Individuals vulnerable to psychosis (VTP) often have multiple lifetime diagnoses, particularly mood and anxiety disorders. Early assessment and treatment of these comorbidities are crucial for VTP patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Psychopathology during the psychosis prodrome is diverse.
- Limited understanding exists regarding clinical diagnoses in individuals with prodromal or psychotic-like symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between vulnerability to psychosis (VTP) and lifetime clinical diagnoses.
- To identify common comorbidities in individuals at risk for psychosis.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 157 subjects (psychotic patients, relatives, treatment-seekers, community sample) using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS) and SCID-I.
- Defined VTP based on SIPS positive symptom severity and lifetime SCID-I diagnoses.
Main Results:
- A linear increase in lifetime diagnoses was observed with increasing severity of psychotic-like symptoms.
- VTP subjects averaged 2.5 lifetime diagnoses, prodromal subjects 2.9, versus 0.7 for non-VTP subjects (p<0.0001).
- Mood disorders and comorbid anxiety disorders were highly prevalent.
Conclusions:
- Vulnerability to psychosis is linked to a higher burden of lifetime Axis-I diagnoses.
- Anxiety disorders are notably common, and most VTP individuals have a lifetime mood disorder diagnosis.
- VTP subjects necessitate thorough assessment and treatment for mood and anxiety symptoms and co-occurring conditions.