[Early recognition and early treatment of schizophrenia: chance or dilemma?].
The early recognition and treatment of schizophrenia in children and adolescents is one of the most important therapeutic goals because of the postulated relation between delayed initiation of treatment and an unfavourable developmental course. The duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) seems to be significantly prolonged in adolescents compared to adults due to both a protracted development of psychotic features and the failure of families and health workers to take seriously the initial signs of psychosis. The idea of primary prevention is criticized since the unspecificity of prodromal signs precludes any specific intervention to prevent schizophrenia. The tree hit model of pathogenesis is outlined and strategies of risk evaluation in early psychotic phases on the basis of the biopsychosocial model are promoted.
Resch
Franz
F
Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin des Universitätsklinikums Heidelberg, Germany. franz.resch@med.uni-heidelberg.de
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy