title: Anomalous self-experiences and their relationship with symptoms, neuro-cognition, and functioning in at-risk adolescents and young adults.
abstract: Empirical and theoretical studies support the notion that anomalous self-experience (ASE) may constitute a phenotypic aspect of vulnerability to schizophrenia, but there are no studies examining the relationship of ASE with other clinical risk factors in a sample of ultra-high risk (UHR) subjects. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between ASE, prodromal symptoms, neurocognition, and global functioning in a sample of 45 UHR adolescents and young adults (age range 15-25years) at first contact with Public Mental Health Services. Prodromal symptoms and global functioning were assessed through the SIPS interview. ASE was evaluated through the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE); for neurocognition, we utilized a battery of tests examining seven cognitive domains as recommended by the Measurement And Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia. In the UHR group, higher levels in two domains of the EASE (stream of consciousness and self-awareness) were found in comparison with help-seeking subjects. Correlational analysis corrected for possible confounding variables showed a strong association (p>0.001) between higher EASE scores and global functioning. A principal factor analysis with Varimax rotation yielded a two-factor solution, jointly accounting for 70.58% of the total variance in the UHR sample. The first factor was comprised of SOPS domains, while the second was comprised of EASE-total, EASE-10, and GAF variables. Our findings provide support for the notion that disorders of self-experience are present early in schizophrenia and are related to global functioning. As such, they may constitute a potential marker of risk supplementing the UHR approach.
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University-Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs), and Unit of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: anna.comparelli@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comparelli
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University-Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs), and Unit of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corigliano
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University-Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs), and Unit of Neurology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University-Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs), and Unit of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.affiliation: Residential Care Home San Raffaele, Unit of Psychiatry, Montecompatri, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelone
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University-Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs), and Unit of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University-Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs), and Unit of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kotzalidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, ASL of Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terzariol
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, ASL of Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, ASL of Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trisolini
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University-Rome, School of Medicine and Psychology, NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sense Organs), and Unit of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062706:Prodromal Symptoms; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult