A longitudinal study of schizophrenia- and affective spectrum disorders in individuals diagnosed with a developmental language disorder as children.
The prevalence and types of schizophrenia- and affective spectrum disorders were studied in 469 individuals with a developmental language disorder (DLD), assessed in the same clinic during a period of 10 years, and 2,345 controls from the general population. All participants were screened through the nationwide Danish Psychiatric Central Register (DPCR). The mean length of follow-up was 34.7 years, and the mean age at follow-up 35.8 years. The results show an excess of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (F20-F29) within participants with DLD when compared with controls from the overall population (6.4% vs. 1.8%; P < 0.0001). For schizophrenia (F20.x) the respective figures were 3.8% versus 1.1%; P = 0.0001. The variable degree of expressive language disorder was significantly associated with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder diagnosis in the DPCR. There was no significant increase in affective spectrum disorders (F30-F39) in the DLD case group (3.4% vs. 2.0%; P = 0.05). Our results provide additional support to the notion that DLD is a marker of increased vulnerability to the development of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Mouridsen
Svend Erik
SE
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bispebjerg University Hospital, 2400, Copenhagen, Denmark. sem01@bbh.hosp.dk
Hauschild
Karen-Marie
KM
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics