title: Parent attitudes and parent adolescent interaction in families of youth at risk for psychosis and with recent-onset psychotic symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the behavioural correlates of caregiver attitudes among parents of youth at risk for psychosis and with recent-onset psychotic symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty adolescents identified as ultra-high-risk (UHR) for psychosis using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes, and their primary caregivers, participated in the Family Interaction Task (FIT), a 10-minute discussion of meaningful shared experiences that allowed families to demonstrate supportive as well as conflict-engaging behaviour. At the same assessment, caregivers were administered the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI). We examined cross-sectional relationships between these measures, as well as their association with youth symptom severity and functioning at 4-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As predicted, caregivers who provided more positive remarks regarding their UHR and recent-onset adolescents during the CFI were also more likely to exhibit constructive behaviour during the FIT. Similarly, CFI critical comments were positively associated with caregivers' conflict-engaging behaviour during the FIT. Parents' positive remarks predicted a decrease in negative symptoms, and parent warmth predicted an increase in social functioning at follow-up assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability to maintain a constructive attitude and approach towards youth predicted symptomatic and functional improvement, and may be a teachable skill.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. mpobrien@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zinberg
authors.forename: Carrie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Bearden
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopelowicz
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: Tyrone D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Cannon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult