title: Baseline differences in clinical symptomatology between ultra high risk subjects with and without a transition to psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The chance of transition to psychosis in patients at Ultra High Risk for developing psychosis (UHR) is 10-15%. The aim of present study was to investigate differences in baseline clinical symptomatology, general level of functioning (GAF-score) and genetic risk between UHR patients who did (UHR+T) or did not (UHR+NT) make a transition to psychosis. Sharpening UHR inclusion criteria may aid in improving prediction of transition to psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample was taken from 285 patients who were examined within the Dutch Prediction of Psychosis Study (DUPS) at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Out of 73 included UHR subjects, 18 made a transition to psychosis. Psychopathology was investigated with the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes, Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms and GAF-score. The follow-up period of the study was three years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The UHR+T group showed more social anhedonia and withdrawal, more bizarre thinking and a lower GAF score at baseline than the UHR+NT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In agreement with the results of Cannon et al. [Cannon, T.D., Cadenhead, K., Cornblatt, B., Woods, S.W., Addington, J., Walker, E., Seidman, L.J., Perkins, D., Tsuang, M., McGlashan, T., Heinssen, R., 2008. Prediction of Psychosis in Youth at High Clinical Risk: A Multisite Longitudinal Study in North America. Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 65 (1) 28-37.], our study indicates that severity of specific symptoms at baseline is related to transition to psychosis in UHR subjects. These findings may contribute to a more accurate prediction of a first psychotic episode. Furthermore, symptoms that are increased at baseline in the UHR+T group could be a focus of cognitive behavioural therapy in the UHR period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.velthorst@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Velthorst
authors.forename: Dorien H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Nieman
authors.forename: Hiske E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Reinaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van de Fliert
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dingemans
authors.forename: Rianne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klaassen
authors.forename: Lieuwe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.forename: Thérèse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Amelsvoort
authors.forename: Don H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Linszen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult