Childhood pegboard task predicts adult-onset psychosis-spectrum disorder among a genetic high-risk sample.
Motor abnormalities have been established as a core aspect of psychosis-spectrum disorders, with numerous studies identifying deficits prior to clinical symptom presentation. Additional research is needed to pinpoint standardized motor assessments associated with psychosis-spectrum disorders prior to illness onset to enhance prediction and understanding of etiology. With a long history of findings among people with diagnosable psychosis-spectrum disorders, but little research conducted during the premorbid phase, pegboard tasks are a viable and understudied measure of premorbid for psychosis motor functioning. In the current study, examining data from the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort, the Simultaneous Pegs Test was performed with children (n=244, aged 10-13) at genetic high risk for psychosis (n=94) and controls (n=150). Findings suggest that children who eventually developed a psychosis-spectrum disorder (n=33) were less likely to successfully complete the task within time limit relative to controls (χ2(2, N=244)=6.94, p=0.03, ϕ=0.17). Additionally, children who eventually developed a psychosis-spectrum disorder took significantly longer to complete the task relative to controls (χ2(2, N=244)=7.06, p=0.03, ϕ=0.17). As pegboard performance is thought to tap both diffuse and specific brain networks, findings suggest that pegboard tests may be useful premorbid measures of motor functioning among those on a trajectory towards a psychosis-spectrum disorder.
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States.
Pamela
P
Rakhshan
Department of Psychiatry, Amager Hospital, Captial Region of Denmark, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Holger
H
Sørensen
School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States.
Jordan
J
DeVylder
Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Northwestern University, United States.
Vijay
V
Mittal
Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Erik L
EL
Mortensen
Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Niels M
NM
Michelsen
Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Morten
M
Ekstrøm
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States.
Steven C
SC
Pitts
Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
Sarnoff A
SA
Mednick
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, United States. Electronic address: schiffma@umbc.edu.
Jason
J
Schiffman
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D012372:ROC Curve; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
High-risk; Pegboard; Premorbid; Psychosis