Treatment of early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (TEOSS): demographic and clinical characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
We examined baseline demographic and clinical profiles of youths enrolled from 2001 to 2006 in the publicly funded multicenter, randomized controlled trial Treatment of Early-Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders.


METHODS
Youths (8-19 years) with schizophrenia (SZ) and schizoaffective disorder were recruited at four academic sites. Diagnosis was made via structured and clinical interviews. Assessments of psychiatric symptoms and social and global functioning were included.


RESULTS
A total of 119 youths were enrolled. The mean age at illness onset was 11.1 +/- 3.5 years. Patients with SZ and schizoaffective disorder had similar ratings on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for Children, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale. The overall level of functioning was similar in the two groups. A comparison to published reports of adults with SZ indicates that these youths may have more severe symptoms based on results of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale.


CONCLUSIONS
This is one of the largest samples of youths with SZ spectrum disorders studied to date and the largest assessment of youths with schizoaffective disorder. High rates of symptoms and general psychopathology were noted. There was a substantial degree of social and functional impairment. The symptom profiles are consistent with, but more severe than, those reported in the adult literature.
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.. Electronic address: JFrazier@challiance.org.
Jean A
JA
Frazier
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Jon
J
McCLELLAN
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Robert L
RL
Findling
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Benedetto
B
Vitiello
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Robert
R
Anderson
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Benjamin
B
Zablotsky
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Emily
E
Williams
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Nora K
NK
McNAMARA
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Joseph A
JA
Jackson
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Louise
L
Ritz
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Stefanie A
SA
Hlastala
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Leslie
L
Pierson
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Jennifer A
JA
Varley
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Madeline
M
Puglia
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ann E
AE
Maloney
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Denisse
D
Ambler
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Tyehimba
T
Hunt-Harrison
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Robert M
RM
Hamer
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Nancy
N
Noyes
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Jeffrey A
JA
Lieberman
Drs. Frazier and Jackson, Mr. Zablotsky, and Ms. Noyes are with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Drs. McClellan and Hlastala, Ms. Pierson, and Ms. Varley are with the University of Washington, Seattle; Drs. Findling and McNamara are with the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland; Dr. Vitiello and Ms. Ritz are with the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD; Dr. Maloney is with the Maine Medical Center, Portland; Dr. Hunt-Harrison is with the John Umstead Hospital, Butner, NC; Dr. Lieberman is with Columbia University, New York; and Drs. Sikich, Hamer, and Ambler, Ms. Williams, Ms. Puglia, and Mr. Anderson are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Linmarie
L
Sikich
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents