title: Premorbid teacher-rated social functioning predicts adult schizophrenia-spectrum disorder: a high-risk prospective investigation.
abstract: Social functioning deficits are a core component of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and may emerge years prior to the onset of diagnosable illness. The current study prospectively examines the relation between teacher-rated childhood social dysfunction and later mental illness among participants who were at genetic high-risk for schizophrenia and controls (n=244). The teacher-rated social functioning scale significantly predicted psychiatric outcomes (schizophrenia-spectrum vs. other psychiatric disorder vs. no mental illness). Poor premorbid social functioning appears to constitute a marker of illness vulnerability and may also function as a chronic stressor potentially exacerbating risk for illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: Holger J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: Erik L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Niels M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Michelsen
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekstrom
authors.forename: Sarnoff
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mednick
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schiffman
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: ANOVA; MCAR; Premorbid; Psychosis; SCID; Schizophrenia-spectrum; Social functioning; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorder; Teachers; analysis of variance; missing completely at random