Neurocognitive profile in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia: clinical correlates.
BACKGROUND
Neurocognitive impairments have been documented in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS; onset by age 18) and are important treatment targets. Information concerning the severity, pattern, and clinical correlates of these deficits in EOS remains limited.


METHODS
Tests assessing motor skills, attention, memory, visuospatial abilities and executive functioning were administered to 54 clinically stabilized adolescents with EOS and 52 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Childhood-onset patients (onset by age 13) were compared to those with an adolescent onset of illness. Patients' neurocognitive profiles were compared to those of controls. Relationships between neurocognitive deficits and demographic and clinical characteristics were explored.


RESULTS
Neurocognitive profiles did not differ between childhood- and adolescent-onset participants. Patients showed a generalized neurocognitive deficit of 2.0 SDs compared to controls, with relative deficit in executive functioning and relative sparing of language and visuospatial abilities. Degree of generalized neurocognitive impairment was associated with premorbid adjustment and negative symptom severity (Adjusted R(2) = .39).


CONCLUSIONS
Results document both a significant generalized deficit and a relative deficit of executive functioning in adolescents with EOS. The overall pattern is similar to that observed in severely ill first-episode adult patients. The impairments across multiple neurocognitive domains suggest widespread brain dysfunction in EOS.
Rhinewine
Joseph P
JP
Department of Psychiatry Research Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New York 11004, USA.
Lencz
Todd
T
Thaden
Emily P
EP
Cervellione
Kelly L
KL
Burdick
Katherine E
KE
Henderson
Inika
I
Bhaskar
Shree
S
Keehlisen
Lynda
L
Kane
John
J
Kohn
Nina
N
Fisch
Gene S
GS
Bilder
Robert M
RM
Kumra
Sanjiv
S
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents