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Published on: November 21, 2013
Markers of neurodevelopmental impairments in early-onset psychosis
Maria Giuseppina Petruzzelli1, Lucia Margari1, Francesco Craig1
1Child and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Foggia, Italy.
Insights
Children with early-onset psychosis show global neurodevelopmental impairments, including social and learning difficulties, and lower IQ. These issues manifest early, suggesting a broader developmental impact beyond just language or motor skills.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Psychosis Research
Background:
- Early-onset schizophrenia spectrum psychosis is associated with neurodevelopmental impairments.
- Understanding these impairments is crucial for early intervention and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the link between clinical and neurobiological markers of neurodevelopmental impairments and early-onset schizophrenia spectrum psychosis.
Main Methods:
- Compared 36 patients with early-onset psychosis to 36 migraine patients.
- Assessed neurodevelopmental milestones, intellectual ability, and neurological soft signs.
Main Results:
- Early-onset psychosis group showed higher rates of impaired social development, learning difficulties, and enuresis.
- The psychosis group had lower IQ scores and subtle motor impairments compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Neurodevelopment in early-onset psychosis is marked by global functional and adaptive skill impairments from early childhood.
- Findings suggest a pervasive developmental impact rather than isolated delays.
- Further research with larger samples is recommended.
Background:
The aim of this study was to assess the association between the clinical and neurobiological markers of neurodevelopmental impairments and early-onset schizophrenia spectrum psychosis.
Methods:
A sample of 36 patients with early-onset schizophrenia spectrum psychosis was compared to a control sample of 36 patients with migraine. We assessed early childhood neurodevelopmental milestones using a modified version of the General Developmental Scale, general intellectual ability using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised or Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised for patients with speech and language abnormalities, and neurological soft signs with specific regard to subtle motor impairment.
Results:
Subjects with early-onset psychosis had a higher rate of impaired social development (P=0.001), learning difficulties (P=0.04), enuresis (P=0.0008), a lower intelligence quotient (P<0.001), and subtle motor impairments (P=0.005) than control subjects.
Conclusion:
We suggest that neurodevelopment in early-onset psychosis is characterized by a global impairment of functional and adaptive skills that manifests from early childhood, rather than a delay or limitation in language and motor development. The current evidence is based on a small sample and should be investigated in larger samples in future research.
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