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Updated: May 29, 2026

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Published on: December 2, 2015
Olfactory identification in young relatives at risk for schizophrenia
Matcheri S Keshavan1, Anvi Vora, Debra Montrose
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Olfactory identification deficits (OIDs) are present in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia. These deficits correlate with prodromal disorganization symptoms, suggesting a potential vulnerability marker.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Olfactory identification deficits (OIDs) are observed in schizophrenia.
- The state- or trait-related nature of OIDs in schizophrenia remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of OIDs in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (HR-S).
- To examine the correlation between OIDs and prodromal symptoms in HR-S.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) to assess OIDs.
- Compared UPSIT scores in HR-S with healthy controls.
- Analyzed correlations between OIDs and prodromal symptoms, controlling for age, gender, and IQ.
Main Results:
- HR-S individuals exhibited lower UPSIT scores than healthy controls, though this difference was not significant after adjusting for covariates.
- OID deficits in HR-S were significantly correlated with prodromal disorganization symptoms after controlling for age and IQ.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory identification deficits may serve as a potential marker for psychopathological vulnerability in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia.
- Further research is warranted to explore the value of OID deficits as vulnerability markers.
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