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Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
Social functioning in young people at risk for schizophrenia
Jacob S Ballon1, Tejal Kaur, Iliana I Marks
1University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, San Diego, CA 92093-0810, USA.
Psychiatry Research
|March 27, 2007
Summary
Individuals at risk for schizophrenia show significant social functioning deficits. These impairments in peer, family, and school relationships may indicate increased vulnerability to psychosis.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder with complex etiology.
- Social functioning deficits are recognized as potential early indicators and risk factors for schizophrenia.
- Early identification of individuals at risk is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate social functioning in individuals at clinical high risk for schizophrenia.
- To compare social adjustment between at-risk individuals, first-episode schizophrenia patients, and healthy controls.
- To determine if social deficits in at-risk youth predict psychosis vulnerability.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Assessment of social functioning using the Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents (SAICA) and the Social Adjustment Scale (SAS-SR).
- Inclusion of 55 individuals at risk for schizophrenia, 16 first-episode schizophrenia patients, and 45 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Individuals at risk for schizophrenia and first-episode patients exhibited significant impairments in social functioning compared to controls.
- Deficits were observed across multiple domains, including peer, family, work, and school relationships.
- These functional impairments were consistent in both adolescent and young adult populations.
Conclusions:
- Significant social functioning deficits are present in individuals at clinical high risk for schizophrenia.
- These deficits represent potential indicators of heightened vulnerability to developing psychosis.
- Social adjustment assessments can aid in identifying at-risk individuals and understanding schizophrenia's developmental trajectory.
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