Childhood psychopathological antecedents in early onset schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the premorbid state of early onset schizophrenia (EOS).


METHODS
Twenty-three adolescents with EOS were compared to a healthy control group (CG) and to a group of anorexic patients (AG). The premorbid state was studied through the CBCL and the data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA's and t-test.


RESULTS
During the premorbid period EOS showed significantly higher scores on all scales, relative to the CG, and only on some scales (social, thought and attention problems, and school competencies) relative to the AG.


CONCLUSIONS
Children who develop first episode psychosis during adolescence differ from children with normal development. The premorbid internalizing state is common to AG but social competencies and school problems are the most affected areas in EOS when compared to the AG. It is hypothesized that both EOS and AG can be considered as the expression of a previous vulnerability.
Muratori
F
F
University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. f.muratori@inpe.unipi.it
Salvadori
F
F
D'Arcangelo
G
G
Viglione
V
V
Picchi
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment