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Executive dysfunction in Turkish children at high risk for schizophrenia

Nese Perdahli Fis1, Fusun Cuhadaroglu Cetin, Mihriban Erturk

  • 1Deptartment of Child Psychiatry, Marmara Universitesi Hastanesi Cocuk, Psikiyatrisi Anabilim Dali, Tophanelioglu Cad. No: 13-15 Altunizade, 34660, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey. nfis@marmara.edu.tr

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|April 23, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with a parent diagnosed with schizophrenia show significant executive function deficits. These executive function (EF) challenges, including sequencing and mental flexibility, are evident early in life.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder with a complex etiology, involving genetic and environmental factors.
  • Early identification of risk factors and developmental trajectories in high-risk populations is crucial for understanding disease development.
  • Executive functions are critical cognitive processes that are often impaired in schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate executive function (EF) domains, specifically sequencing, set shifting, and mental flexibility, in children at high risk for schizophrenia.
  • To compare the EF performance of high-risk children with that of a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

  • A high-risk (HR) group (n=30) of children with a parent diagnosed with schizophrenia was recruited.
  • A control group (CG) of 30 age- and sex-matched children with no parental psychiatric diagnosis was included.
  • Cognitive functions were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and neuropsychological tests (Trail Making A-B, Color Form Test, Progressive Figures Test).
  • Behavioral problems were evaluated using the Hacettepe Adjustment Scale.

Main Results:

  • High-risk children scored significantly lower on executive function tests, including Trail Making A-B, Color Form, and Progressive Figures Tests.
  • Significant differences were observed in WISC-R subtests and overall IQ scores (Verbal, Performance, Full Scale) between the HR and CG groups.
  • No significant differences in the frequency or severity of behavioral problems were found between the two groups.

Conclusions:

  • Children with a parental history of schizophrenia exhibit notable impairments in executive functions such as sequencing, set shifting, and mental flexibility.
  • These findings suggest that executive function deficits may be an early indicator of schizophrenia risk in children.
  • Early intervention targeting executive function may be beneficial for high-risk children.
Abstract

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