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Development from birth to adolescence of children at-risk for schizophrenia

Sydney L Hans1, Judith G Auerbach, Aaron G Auerbach

  • 1School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA. shans@uchicago.edu

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology
|August 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Children with a parent with schizophrenia show early neuromotor, cognitive, and attentional issues. These early signs may predict later schizophrenia spectrum disorders, highlighting the need for comprehensive assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Background:

  • Offspring of individuals with schizophrenia have an elevated risk for developing the disorder.
  • The Jerusalem Infant Development Study (JIDS) prospectively followed 15 high-risk children from birth through adolescence.
  • This study aimed to describe the developmental trajectory of these at-risk youth.

Observation:

  • High-risk children exhibited increased neuromotor, cognitive, and attentional problems in infancy and childhood compared to controls.
  • These neurobehavioral deficits were associated with poorer social adjustment and increased schizophrenia spectrum symptoms.
  • Case studies illustrated the progression from early impairment to schizophrenia spectrum disorders in adolescence.

Findings:

  • Early-appearing neurobehavioral impairments in children of parents with schizophrenia are linked to later developmental challenges.
  • Specific neuromotor, cognitive, and attentional deficits may serve as early indicators of genetic vulnerability.
  • A significant proportion of high-risk children displayed developmental issues and an increased likelihood of schizophrenia spectrum conditions.

Implications:

  • Early identification of neurobehavioral impairments is crucial for at-risk youth.
  • Comprehensive assessment, including neuromotor and neuropsychological functioning, is recommended for children with a parental history of schizophrenia.
  • Intervention strategies targeting early developmental deficits may help mitigate the risk of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Abstract

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