Neuropsychological deficits in the prodromal phase and course of an early-onset schizophrenia. A case report.
OBJECTIVE
Although clear advances have been achieved in the study of early-onset schizophrenia (EOS), little is known to date about premorbid and prodromal neuropsychological functioning in EOS.


METHODS
Here, we report on a case of an adolescent male with EOS who underwent neuropsychological testing before and after illness onset.


RESULTS
Marked cognitive deficits in the domains of attention, set-shifting, and verbal memory were present both pre-onset and during the course of schizophrenia, though only deficits in verbal memory persisted after illness-onset and antipsychotic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this case study suggest that impairments in the verbal memory domain are particularly prominent symptoms of cognitive impairment in prodromal EOS and persist in the course of the disorder, which further demonstrates the difficult clinical situation of adequate schooling opportunities for adolescent patients with EOS.
Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, <location>Germany</location>
Vanessa
V
Puetz
Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, <location>Germany</location>
Thomas
T
Günther
Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, <location>Germany</location>
Berrak
B
Kahraman-Lanzerath
Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, <location>Germany</location> JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, <location>Germany</location>
Beate
B
Herpertz-Dahlmann
Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, <location>Germany</location> JARA Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen & Jülich, <location>Germany</location>
Kerstin
K
Konrad
D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D056348:Emotional Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062706:Prodromal Symptoms; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
Kasuistik; Neuropsychologie; Prodrom; Schizophrenie mit Beginn in Kindheit und Adoleszenz; case study; early-onset schizophrenia; neuropsychological function; prodrome; set-shifting; verbal memory; verbales Gedächtnis