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Premorbid personality in schizophrenia spectrum: a prospective study
Morten Ekstrøm1, Erik Lykke Mortensen, Holger J Sørensen
1Danish Epidemiology Science Center, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. m.ekstroem@dadlnet.dk
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
|October 20, 2006
Summary
Children who later developed schizophrenia spectrum disorder showed distinct premorbid personality traits, including lower intelligence and self-control, and higher aggression. These findings highlight early behavioral markers for schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Schizophrenia is associated with premorbid personality anomalies.
- Prospective studies on premorbid personality in schizophrenia spectrum disorders are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate premorbid personality characteristics in children who later developed schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
- To identify early behavioral markers associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort, following 265 children at age 12.
- Assessed personality using the Adjective Check List (ACL) and linked it to adult psychiatric status (schizophrenia spectrum, other psychiatric diagnoses, healthy controls).
Main Results:
- Children who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorder exhibited significantly lower intelligence, concentration, maturity, friendliness, cooperation, and self-control.
- This group also showed significantly higher aggression compared to healthy controls.
- Trends suggested more deviant personality scores compared to psychiatric controls, though not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Children developing schizophrenia spectrum disorder display distinct premorbid personality traits compared to healthy individuals.
- The Adjective Check List (ACL) may lack the sensitivity to differentiate premorbid personality in the schizophrenia spectrum from other psychopathology.
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