Clinical high risk for psychosis in children and adolescents: a systematic review

Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of depression in children and adolescents at clinical high-risk for psychosis: Results of a two-year follow-up study

Depressive disorders are a main cause of disability already in children and adolescents, in whom the clinical picture somewhat differs from adult-onset depression. Depression is also a frequent comorbidity in somatic and mental disorders and has been considered an actionable outcome for, for example, patients at clinical high-risk for psychoses (CHRP). Thus, we studied sociodemographic and clinical predictors of depression/dysthymia in an underage sample with focus on those considered at CHRP. Our baseline sample (N = 676) included CHR-P patients (n = 183), inpatients admitted for non-psychotic, non-affective disorders (n = 277), and community participants (n = 216) of age 8.0-17.9 years (43.8 % male). They were interviewed for mental disorders and symptoms with various instruments, including the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents, which was also used to assess depression/dysthymia in the CHR-P group at one- and two-year-follow up (n = 117/73). Stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to first identify a cross-sectional baseline model in the complete sample that was then tested prospectively in CHR-P patients. The baseline model included nationality and 13 clinical variables, particularly mild depressive symptoms. Variables contributing significantly to the prediction of persistence or new occurrence of depression/dysthymia varied over time, indicating that depression/dysthymia in CHR-P minors may require different predictors depending on the follow-up time. Furthermore, the prospective accuracy of ruling out depression/dysthymia was superior to the accuracy of ruling it in. This lower positive likelihood ratio might be overcome in future by stepwise approaches that further stratify risk in those CHR-P minors identified as at increased risk of depression/dysthymia.

Investigating the attenuated psychosis syndrome in youth with autism spectrum disorder: results from an observational study

Introduction

Despite evidence suggesting increased rates of psychosis in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the detection of prodromal psychotic symptoms, including attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS), remains underexplored in this population.

Methods

The primary aim of the present study was to characterize the clinical phenotype of young individuals with ASD who also present with APS (ASD/APS; n = 48) in comparison with individuals with APS only (n = 93) and those with ASD only (n = 30) (age range 9-23 years). Assessments included standardized measures of autistic symptoms (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition; ADOS-2), pre-psychotic symptoms (Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes; SIPS), and cognitive and adaptive functioning.

Results

Overall, the ASD/APS group demonstrated significantly poorer general adaptive skills compared with the APS group (p = 0.006) and the ASD group (p = 0.005). Compared with the APS group, the ASD/APS group exhibited lower scores across all SIPS domains, with the exception of SIPS-P1 (unusual thought content/delusional ideas; p = 0.062; t = -1.882; F = 5.44) and SIPS-P3 (grandiosity; p = 0.156; t = -1.435; F = 22.6). In contrast, the ASD/APS group displayed significantly higher scores in the repetitive and restricted behavior domain compared with the ASD group (p < 0.001). Notably, there were no significant differences in the age of APS onset across groups (p = 0.601; t = 0.525; F = 0.253).

Discussion

These findings provide a more nuanced characterization of APS features in individuals with ASD and emphasize the importance of screening for APS in this population, particularly those considered at increased risk. Early detection and intervention could facilitate timely therapeutic support, potentially improving long-term outcomes for these individuals.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders in children and adolescents: Clinical, phenomenological, diagnostic, and prognostic features across subtypes

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) typically have a diagnostically recognizable onset in young adulthood, yet it is not unusual that help-seeking due to initial SSD-related clinical manifestations emerge in earlier developmental phases, such as childhood and adolescence. Varieties of SSD manifestations in children and adolescents can be distinguished according to variations in clinical expressivity, severity and timing (i.e. developmental stage). Some individuals may reach the full clinical threshold for a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the same descriptive diagnostic criteria used for adults, and in this case, it's possible to distinguish a pre-pubertal onset in childhood (aka Very Early Onset Schizophrenia, VEOS) and a post-pubertal onset in adolescence (aka Early Onset Schizophrenia, EOS). Other individuals may not reach such clinically overt diagnostic threshold but nonetheless present Childhood Schizotypal Disorder (CSD) or a Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis (CHRP). While EOS is clinically more similar to the canonical adult-onset presentation, the other 3 subgroups (i.e. VEOS, CSD, CHRP) present more nuances and specific clinical characteristics, which require ad-hoc developmental and phenomenological considerations for appropriate differential diagnosis and prognosis. Therefore, current scoping review intends to saturate such knowledge gap with respect to early SSD-phenotypes.

Clinical and neurodevelopmental predictors of psychotic disorders in children and adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis: the CAPRIS study

BACKGROUND

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia represents the disorder as an expression of an alteration during the brain development process early in life. Neurodevelopmental variables could become a trait marker, and the study of these variables in children and adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) could identify a specific cluster of patients who later developed psychosis. The aim of this study is to describe clinical and neurodevelopment predictors of transition to psychosis in child and adolescent participants at CHR. Naturalistic longitudinal two-center study of 101 CHR and 110 healthy controls (HC) aged 10-17. CHR participants were children and adolescents aged 10-17, meeting one or more of the CHR criteria assessed at baseline and at 18 months' follow-up. Neurodevelopmental variables assessed were obstetric complications, delay in principal development milestones, and presence of a neurodevelopment diagnosis. Pairwise comparisons, linear regressions, and binary logistic regression were performed.A transition rate of 23.3% at 1.5 years was observed. Participants who developed psychosis (CHR-P) showed higher rates of grandiosity and higher proportions of antipsychotic medication intake at baseline compared to participants who did not develop a psychotic disorder (CHR-NP). In terms of neurodevelopment alterations, CHR-P group showed a higher proportion of participants reporting delay in language development than the CHR-NP and HC groups. The odds of psychosis increased by 6.238 CI 95% [1.276-30.492] for a one-unit increase in having a positive score in grandiosity; they increased by 4.257 95% CI [1.293-14.023] for a one-unit increase in taking antipsychotic medication, and by 4.522 95% [1.185-64.180] for showing language development delay. However, the p-values did not reach significance after adjusting for multiple comparisons.A combination of clinical and neurodevelopmental alterations could help predict the transition to psychotic disorder in a CHR child and adolescent sample. Our results suggest the potential utility of collecting information about neurodevelopment and using these variable multifactorial models to predict psychosis disorders.

The influence of complex psychiatric comorbidities on treatment for clinical high-risk for psychosis: A preliminary study

AIM

Despite increasingly refined tools for identifying individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P), less is known about the effectiveness of CHR-P interventions. The significant clinical heterogeneity among CHR-P individuals suggests that interventions may need to be personalized during this emerging illness phase. We examined longitudinal trajectories within-persons during treatment to investigate whether baseline factors predict symptomatic and functional outcomes.

METHOD

A total of 36 CHR-P individuals were rated on attenuated positive symptoms and functioning at baseline and each week during CHR-P step-based treatment.

RESULTS

Linear mixed-effects models revealed that attenuated positive symptoms decreased during the study period, while functioning did not significantly change. When examining baseline predictors, a significant group-by-time interaction emerged whereby CHR-P individuals with more psychiatric comorbidities at baseline (indicating greater clinical complexity) improved in functioning during the study period relative to CHR-P individuals with fewer comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

Individual differences in clinical complexity may predict functional response during the early phases of CHR-P treatment.

[Ethical Considerations of Including Minors in Clinical Trials Using the Example of the Indicated Prevention of Psychotic Disorders]

Ethical Considerations of Including Minors in Clinical Trials Using the Example of the Indicated Prevention of Psychotic Disorders Abstract: As a vulnerable group, minors require special protection in studies. For this reason, researchers are often reluctant to initiate studies, and ethics committees are reluctant to authorize such studies. This often excludes minors from participating in clinical studies. This exclusion can lead to researchers and clinicians receiving only incomplete data or having to rely on adult-based findings in the treatment of minors. Using the example of the study "Computer-Assisted Risk Evaluation in the Early Detection of Psychotic Disorders" (CARE), which was conducted as an 'other clinical investigation' according to the Medical Device Regulation, we present a line of argumentation for the inclusion of minors which weighs the ethical principles of nonmaleficence (especially regarding possible stigmatization), beneficence, autonomy, and fairness. We show the necessity of including minors based on the development-specific differences in diagnostics and early intervention. Further, we present specific protective measures. This argumentation can also be transferred to other disorders with the onset in childhood and adolescence and thus help to avoid excluding minors from appropriate evidence-based care because of insufficient studies.

Motor precision deficits in clinical high risk for psychosis

Motor deficits appear prior to psychosis onset, provide insight into vulnerability as well as mechanisms that give rise to emerging illness, and are predictive of conversion. However, to date, the extant literature has often targeted a complex abnormality (e.g., gesture dysfunction, dyskinesia), or a single fundamental domain (e.g., accuracy) but rarely provided critical information about several of the individual components that make up more complex behaviors (or deficits). This preliminary study applies a novel implicit motor task to assess domains of motor accuracy, speed, recognition, and precision in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-p). Sixty participants (29 CHR-p; 31 healthy volunteers) completed clinical symptom interviews and a novel Serial Interception Sequence Learning (SISL) task that assessed implicit motor sequence accuracy, speed, precision, and explicit sequence recognition. These metrics were examined in multilevel models that enabled the examination of overall effects and changes in motor domains over blocks of trials and by positive/negative symptom severity. Implicit motor sequence accuracy, speed, and explicit sequence recognition were not detected as impacted in CHR-p. When compared to healthy controls, individuals at CHR-p were less precise in motor responses both overall (d = 0.91) and particularly in early blocks which normalized over later blocks. Within the CHR-p group, these effects were related to positive symptom levels (t = - 2.22, p = 0.036), such that individuals with higher symptom levels did not improve in motor precision over time (r's = 0.01-0.05, p's > 0.54). CHR-p individuals showed preliminary evidence of motor precision deficits but no other motor domain deficits, particularly in early performance that normalized with practice.

Age-related change in cortical thickness in adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis: a longitudinal study

Progression to psychosis has been associated with increased cortical thinning in the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes in individuals at clinical high risk for the disorder (CHR-P). The timing and spatial extent of these changes are thought to be influenced by age. However, most evidence so far stems from adult samples. Longitudinal studies are essential to understanding the neuroanatomical changes associated to transition to psychosis during adolescence, and their relationship with age. We conducted a longitudinal, multisite study including adolescents at CHR-P and healthy controls (HC), aged 10-17 years. Structural images were acquired at baseline and at 18-month follow-up. Images were processed with the longitudinal pipeline in FreeSurfer. We used a longitudinal two-stage model to compute the regional cortical thickness (CT) change, and analyze between-group differences controlling for age, sex and scan, and corrected for multiple comparisons. Linear regression was used to study the effect of age at baseline. A total of 103 individuals (49 CHR-P and 54 HC) were included in the analysis. During follow-up, the 13 CHR-P participants who transitioned to psychosis exhibited greater CT decrease over time in the right parietal cortex compared to those who did not transition to psychosis and to HC. Age at baseline correlated with longitudinal changes in CT, with younger individuals showing greater cortical thinning in this region. The emergence of psychosis during early adolescence may have an impact on typical neuromaturational processes. This study provides new insights on the cortical changes taking place prior to illness onset.

Burden Experienced by Primary Caregivers of Children With Psychotic Disorders and at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

BACKGROUND

Despite the existing research exploring caregiver burden in adult psychosis, few studies have examined the experience of providing care to children diagnosed with psychotic disorders (PDs) and those identified as having clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P).

AIM

This study measured the level of burden in caregivers of children with PD and CHR-P and examined associated risk factors, including social support, caregiver-child relationship, severity of illness, and frequency of psychiatric hospitalizations.

METHODS

A total of 56 caregivers completed validated measures and provided demographic information. Measures included the Zarit Burden Interview, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition, Parenting Relationship Questionnaire-Child and Adolescent Form (BASC-3 PRQ-CA), and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale.

RESULTS

The majority of caregivers were women (86%), mothers (84%), White (63%), married (66%), working full-time (50%), college-educated (79%), and whose mean age was 45.7 years (SD = 8.09). Nearly half of the caregivers (45%) reported a high level of caregiver burden, 39% rated their burden in the mild to moderate range, and 16% reported little to no burden. There was no significant difference in mean burden between PD and CHR-P groups. Higher caregiver burden was associated with lower levels of social support (r = -.408, p = .002), lower levels of parenting confidence (r = -.514, p < .001), higher levels of relational frustration (r = .612, p < .001), and higher severity of illness (r = .316 p = .025).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the critical unmet need for support for caregivers of children with PD and CHR-P. Applications to clinical practice are discussed.

Heterogeneity of clinical symptomatology in pediatric patients at clinical high risk for psychosis

OBJECTIVE

Widespread use of diagnostic tools like the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS) has highlighted that youth at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) present with heterogeneous symptomatology. This pilot study aims to highlight the range of clinical characteristics of CHR-P youth, investigate the role of the non-positive (negative, disorganization, and general) symptoms in risk assessment, and determine if specific profiles are associated with severe symptomatology.

METHODS

38 participants aged 7-18 were administered the SIPS and designated as CHR-P. Descriptive statistics and mean difference t-tests were used to describe the range in prevalence and severity of SIPS symptoms and to identify symptoms associated with greater overall symptomatology.

RESULTS

Participants who had a greater number of positive symptoms also had significantly more negative, disorganization, and general symptoms. A number of SIPS symptoms were associated with greater number of positive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

CHR-P youth represent a heterogeneous group, presenting with a wide range in clinical presentation as reflected in both the number of SIPS symptoms and their severity. Though the severity and duration of positive SIPS symptoms determines the CHR-P classification, high ratings on several of the other SIPS negative, disorganization, and general items may be useful indicators of elevated symptomatology.

Prodromal symptoms and the duration of untreated psychosis in first episode of psychosis patients: what differences are there between early vs. adult onset and between schizophrenia vs. bipolar disorder?

To assess the role of age (early onset psychosis-EOP < 18 years vs. adult onset psychosis-AOP) and diagnosis (schizophrenia spectrum disorders-SSD vs. bipolar disorders-BD) on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and prodromal symptoms in a sample of patients with a first episode of psychosis. 331 patients with a first episode of psychosis (7-35 years old) were recruited and 174 (52.6%) diagnosed with SSD or BD at one-year follow-up through a multicenter longitudinal study. The Symptom Onset in Schizophrenia (SOS) inventory, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the structured clinical interviews for DSM-IV diagnoses were administered. Generalized linear models compared the main effects and group interaction. 273 AOP (25.2 ± 5.1 years; 66.5% male) and 58 EOP patients (15.5 ± 1.8 years; 70.7% male) were included. EOP patients had significantly more prodromal symptoms with a higher frequency of trouble with thinking, avolition and hallucinations than AOP patients, and significantly different median DUP (91 [33-177] vs. 58 [21-140] days; Z = - 2.006, p = 0.045). This was also significantly longer in SSD vs. BD patients (90 [31-155] vs. 30 [7-66] days; Z = - 2.916, p = 0.004) who, moreover had different profiles of prodromal symptoms. When assessing the interaction between age at onset (EOP/AOP) and type of diagnosis (SSD/BD), avolition was significantly higher (Wald statistic = 3.945; p = 0.047), in AOP patients with SSD compared to AOP BD patients (p = 0.004). Awareness of differences in length of DUP and prodromal symptoms in EOP vs. AOP and SSD vs. BD patients could help improve the early detection of psychosis among minors.

The specificity of the auditory P300 responses and its association with clinical outcomes in youth with psychosis risk syndrome

Background

Schizophrenia often occurs in youth, and psychosis risk syndrome (PRS) occurs before the onset of psychosis. Assessing the neuropsychological abnormalities of PRS individuals can help in early identification and active intervention of mental illness. Auditory P300 amplitude defect is an important manifestation of attention processing abnormality in PRS, but it is still unclear whether there are abnormalities in the attention processing of rhythmic compound tone stimuli in PRS individuals, and whether the P300 amplitude induced by these stimuli is specific to PRS individuals and related to their clinical outcomes.

Methods

In total, 226 participants, including 122 patients with PRS, 51 patients with emotional disorders (ED), and 53 healthy controls (HC) were assessed. Baseline electroencephalography was recorded during the compound tone oddball task. The event-related potentials (ERPs) induced by rhythmic compound tone stimuli of two frequencies (20-Hz, 40-Hz) were measured. Almost all patients with PRS were followed up for 12 months and reclassified into four groups: PRS-conversion, PRS-symptomatic, PRS-emotional disorder, and PRS-complete remission. The differences in baseline ERPs were compared among the clinical outcome groups.

Results

Regardless of the stimulation frequency, the average P300 amplitude were significantly higher in patients with PRS than in those with ED (p = 0.003, d = 0.48) and in HC (p = 0.002, d = 0.44) group. The average P300 amplitude of PRS-conversion group was significantly higher than that of the PRS-complete remission (p = 0.016, d = 0.72) and HC group (p = 0.001, d = 0.76), and the average P300 amplitude of PRS-symptomatic group was significantly higher than that of the HC group (p = 0.006, d = 0.48). Regardless of the groups (PRS, ED, HC) or the PRS clinical outcome groups, the average P300 amplitude induced by 20-Hz tone stimulation was significantly higher than that induced by 40-Hz stimulation (ps < 0.001, Ƞ2 = 0.074-0.082). The average reaction times of PRS was significantly faster than that of ED (p = 0.01, d = 0.38), and the average reaction times of the participants to 20-Hz target stimulation was significantly faster than that to 40-Hz target stimulation (p < 0.001, d = 0.21).

Conclusion

The auditory P300 amplitude induced by rhythmic compound tone stimuli is a specific electrophysiological manifestation of PRS, and the auditory P300 amplitude induced by compound tone stimuli shows promise as a putative prognostic biomarker for PRS clinical outcomes, including conversion to psychosis and clinical complete remission.

Cognitive predictors of transition and remission of psychosis risk syndrome in a child and adolescent sample: longitudinal findings from the CAPRIS study

Cognitive impairments are proposed as predictors in the differentiation between subjects with psychosis risk syndrome (PRS) who will develop a psychotic disorder (PRS-P) and those who will not (PRS-NP). More in-depth study of the PRS-NP group could contribute to defining the role of cognitive alterations in psychosis. This study aims to analyze cognition of children and adolescents with PRS in terms of their clinical outcome at 18-month follow-up (psychosis, remission, and non-remission) and of determinate predictors of transition to psychosis and remission of PRS. The method is two-site, naturalistic, longitudinal study design, with 98 help-seeking adolescents with PRS and 64 healthy controls (HC). PRS-P (n = 24) and PRS-NP (n = 74) participants were clinically and cognitively assessed at baseline, and when full-blown psychotic disorder had developed or at 18-month follow-up. PRS-P subjects showed lower scores at baseline in processing speed, visuospatial memory, attention, and executive function (cognitive flexibility/processing speed) compared to HC. PRS-NP subjects showed lower baseline scores in verbal working memory and verbal fluency compared to HC. This deficit is also observed in the PRS group of participants still presenting attenuated psychotic symptoms at 18-month follow-up, while PRS subjects in remission showed a similar cognitive profile to HC subjects. Baseline score on processing speed, measured with a coding task, appeared to be a predictive variable for the development of a psychotic disorder. Performance in verbal working memory was predictive of remission in the PRS-NP. Post hoc comparisons indicate the need for careful interpretation of cognitive markers as predictors of psychosis. Cognitive impairments are present in both PRS-P and PRS-NP. Those individuals who recover from PRS show baseline cognitive performance comparable to the HC group. Together with sociodemographic variables, this observation could help in the differentiation of a variety of PRS trajectories in children and adolescents.

The dimensionality of perceptual anomalies and their relationships with bullying victimization among Chinese adolescents: From a network perspective

Anomalous perceptual experiences in adolescents are common and may predict future psychotic disorders and other psychopathologies. However, the underlying structure and their specific relationships with bullying victimizations, a typical stressor for adolescents, remain unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to clarify the structure of perceptual anomalies as assessed by the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) using exploratory graph analysis (EGA), a new factor retention method based on network psychometrics. The second aim was to explore whether specific dimensions of perceptual anomalies are particularly associated with certain forms of bullying victimization. Data from a validated sample of 1199 Chinese adolescents (56.0 % females, age range: 14-20) on perceptual anomalies and bullying victimizations were analyzed using network approaches, including EGA and mixed graphical modeling (mgm). Results showed that each anomalous perception was experienced by 13.8-50.3 % of the participants. EGA identified four dimensions: aberrant bodily perceptions, altered daily experiences, chemosensation (i.e., abnormal gustatory and olfactory experiences), and clinical psychosis (i.e., visual and auditory hallucinatory experiences). Among them, the altered daily experiences dimension possessed the highest centrality. Physical bullying and cyberbullying were directly and positively linked to two of the aberrant bodily experiences. Bootstrap analyses suggest that the results are reliable. The current findings support the existence of multiple contributive factors to perceptual anomalies and underscore the importance of bullying prevention in reducing mental health risks for adolescents, particularly the risk of psychosis.

Value of P300 amplitude in the diagnosis of untreated first-episode schizophrenia and psychosis risk syndrome in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

Identifying the characteristic neurobiological changes of early psychosis is helpful for early clinical diagnosis. However, previous studies on the brain electrophysiology of children and adolescents with psychosis are rare.

METHODS

This study compared P300 amplitude at multiple electrodes between children and adolescents with first-episode schizophrenia (FES, n = 48), children and adolescents with psychosis risk syndrome (PRS, n = 24), and healthy controls (HC, n = 30). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to test the ability of P300 amplitude to distinguish FES, PRS and HC individuals.

RESULTS

The P300 amplitude in the FES group were significantly lower than those in the HC at the Cz, Pz, and Oz electrodes. The P300 amplitude was also significantly lower in the prodromal group than in the HC at the Pz and Oz electrodes. ROC curve analysis showed that at the Pz electrode, the P300 amplitude evoked by the target and standard stimulus showed high sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve value for distinguishing FES from HC individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found early visual P300 deficits in children and adolescents with FES and PRS, with the exclusion of possible influence of medication and chronic medical conditions, suggesting the value of P300 amplitude for the identification of early psychosis.

Predictors of transition in patients with clinical high risk for psychosis: an umbrella review

Diagnosis of a clinical high-risk (CHR) state enables timely treatment of individuals at risk for a psychotic disorder, thereby contributing to improving illness outcomes. However, only a minority of patients diagnosed with CHR will make the transition to overt psychosis. To identify patients most likely to benefit from early intervention, several studies have investigated characteristics that distinguish CHR patients who will later develop a psychotic disorder from those who will not. We aimed to summarize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on predictors of transition to psychosis in CHR patients, among characteristics and biomarkers assessed at baseline. A systematic search was conducted in Pubmed, Scopus, PsychInfo and Cochrane databases to identify reviews and meta-analyses of studies that investigated specific baseline predictors or biomarkers for transition to psychosis in CHR patients using a cross-sectional or longitudinal design. Non-peer-reviewed publications, gray literature, narrative reviews and publications not written in English were excluded from analyses. We provide a narrative synthesis of results from all included reviews and meta-analyses. For each included publication, we indicate the number of studies cited in each domain and its quality rating. A total of 40 publications (21 systematic reviews and 19 meta-analyses) that reviewed a total of 272 original studies qualified for inclusion. Baseline predictors most consistently associated with later transition included clinical characteristics such as attenuated psychotic and negative symptoms and functioning, verbal memory deficits and the electrophysiological marker of mismatch negativity. Few predictors reached a level of evidence sufficient to inform clinical practice, reflecting generalizability issues in a field characterized by studies with small, heterogeneous samples and relatively few transition events. Sample pooling and harmonization of methods across sites and projects are necessary to overcome these limitations.

Review of factors resulting in systemic biases in the screening, assessment, and treatment of individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis in the United States

Background

Since its inception, research in the clinical high-risk (CHR) phase of psychosis has included identifying and exploring the impact of relevant socio-demographic factors. Employing a narrative review approach and highlighting work from the United States, sociocultural and contextual factors potentially affecting the screening, assessment, and service utilization of youth at CHR were reviewed from the current literature.

Results

Existing literature suggests that contextual factors impact the predictive performance of widely used psychosis-risk screening tools and may introduce systemic bias and challenges to differential diagnosis in clinical assessment. Factors reviewed include racialized identity, discrimination, neighborhood context, trauma, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and age. Furthermore, racialized identity and traumatic experiences appear related to symptom severity and service utilization among this population.

Conclusions

Collectively, a growing body of research from the United States and beyond suggests that considering context in psychosis-risk assessment can provide a more accurate appraisal of the nature of risk for psychosis, render more accurate results improving the field's prediction of conversion to psychosis, and enhance our understanding of psychosis-risk trajectories. More work is needed in the U.S. and across the globe to uncover how structural racism and systemic biases impact screening, assessment, treatment, and clinical and functional outcomes for those at CHR.

Detection of clinical high risk for psychosis in child and adolescent mental health services: Validation of the first step with the French versions of the Prodromal Questionnaire (fPQ-16) and scale of Perceptual and Cognitive Aberrations (fPCA)

AIM

To validate the French versions of the 16-items Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) and the 9-items scale of Perceptual and Cognitive Aberrations (PCA) to facilitate screening of psychosis risk in native French-speaking young individuals referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

METHOD

Participants (N = 87, age range 10-18 years) were diagnosed with a non-psychotic disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The French versions of the PQ-16 and PCA were developed using a forward-backward translation procedure. Psychometric properties were tested including (i) internal validity with Pearson correlations and Cronbach's coefficients, and (ii) external validity by correlations with each other's.

RESULTS

(i) Correlations between fPQ-16 and fPCA total scores and individual items were mostly >.4. Cronbach's coefficients were .80 for the fPQ-16 and .61 for the fPCA. (ii) The fPQ-16 and fPCA total scores were significantly correlated with a large effect size (r_s  = 0.66).

CONCLUSION

The fPQ-16 and the fPCA are psychometrically acceptable instruments for the screening of potential psychotic symptoms in French-speaking children and young adolescents under 18 years old referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Major depressive disorder and attenuated negative symptoms in a child and adolescent sample with psychosis risk syndrome: the CAPRIS study

Some 70-80% of subjects with psychotic risk syndrome (PRS) have lifetime comorbidity, with depressive disorders being the most common. A high proportion of patients with PRS present nonspecific symptoms which can be confounding factors for diagnosis. Depressive and negative symptoms may be difficult to distinguish and it is important to differentiate them. The aim of this study is to assess the presence of depressive disorder in a child and adolescent sample of PRS and to examine the presence of negative symptoms and detect possible confounding characteristics between them and depressive symptoms. This is a naturalistic multi-site study with subjects who met PRS criteria. A sample of 89 PRS adolescent patients was included. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent comorbid disorder (34.83%). The sample was divided into patients who met criteria for MDD (PRS-MDD, n = 31) and those who did not have this disorder (PRS-ND, n = 44). We obtained significant differences in the attenuated negative symptoms (ANS) between PRS-MDD and PRS-ND (68.18 vs. 90.32%, respectively, p = 0.021). Subjects with MDD presented a higher score in ANS and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Moreover, we obtained a correlation between negative symptomatology and HDRS score with a higher score on HDRS in subjects with higher negative symptom scores (r = 0.533, p < 0.001). More research is needed to fine tune differentiation between depressive and negative symptoms and learn more about the possible impact of MDD on PRS children and adolescents.

No Meta-analytic Effect of Age on Probability of Developing Psychosis in Individuals at Clinical High Risk

OBJECTIVE

The clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) holds the potential to improve outcomes through primary indicated prevention. Its impact is determined by efficient detection, prognostication and prophylactic interventions. Specifically, ascertaining the likelihood of psychosis onset from a CHR-P state is of paramount relevance to inform clinical care. The objective of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of the impact of age on the likelihood of developing psychosis in CHR-P individuals.

METHOD

Critical analysis of recent publications in the light of evidence-based meta-analyses.

RESULTS

Recent meta-analyses showed that the probability of developing psychosis from a CHR-P, which cumulates to 19% (95% CI 17% to 22%) at 2 years, increasing to 28% (95% CI 20% to 37%) at >4 years. Some studies suggest that lower age of CHR-P individuals is associated with a reduced transition to psychosis, but these studies are biased by the use of an arbitrary cut-off at the age of 18 years, which conflicts with the neurodevelopmental biology and the transitional (ie, including both adolescents and young adults) nature of the CHR-P paradigm. When age is tested as a continuous predictor in meta-regression analyses, there is no evidence that it is associated with the probability of developing psychosis (β = 0.0165, 95% CI -0.0362 to 0.0692).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no evidence that age impacts the probability of developing psychosis in individuals at CHR-P. Adolescents at CHR-P remain a vulnerable patient group that needs ongoing collaborative research and preventive efforts.

Clinical high risk for psychosis in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of transition prevalences

The strategic value of early, preventive intervention in psychosis has been a catalytic stepping stone to promoting early intervention in Mental Health. Central to such momentum is the construct of clinical high risk states for psychosis (CHR). While CHR emerge in developmental years, the meta-analytical risk of psychosis among children and adolescents (age 9-18 years) at CHR is still unknown. We conducted a meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines including all studies that assessed CHR in children and adolescents (age ≤ 18 years) with validated instruments and provided follow-data on transition to psychosis up to December 31, 2018. We identified 11 eligible studies. Mean age was 15.8 ± 0.8 years, range: 13.8 to 16.8. Transition to psychosis occurred in 93 CHR subjects out of 533 that were enrolled at inception, over a follow-up period ranging from 6 to 72 months. Conversion prevalence was 17.5% (95% CI: 9.9% to 26.5%) in the random-effects model (Q = 30.9; p < .001; I² = 68%), and slightly lower (16.0; 12.9% to 19.5%) in the fixed-effect model. Gender ratio, the criteria used to diagnose the CHR status, and quality of studies had an impact on the estimates of conversion prevalence in the intention-to-treat model without the outlier. Studies of fair quality produced lower estimates of conversion prevalence (11%; 95% CI: 2% to 24%) than those produced by studies of good quality (19%; 95% CI: 11% to 28%). These findings suggest that CHR in adolescence presents commensurable transition prevalences to those found in adult samples, confirming the relevance of CHR criteria for timely risk inception in developmental years. Outcomes other than transition to psychosis (e.g. remission, persistent CHR, socio-functional status or treatment responses) were not systematically reported thereby preventing further, more sophisticated, prognostic stratifications.

Equity in Mental Health Services for Youth at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: Considering Marginalized Identities and Stressors

Prevention and early intervention programs have been initiated worldwide to serve youth at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P), who are adolescents and young adults experiencing subclinical psychosis and functional impairment. The primary goals of these efforts are to prevent or mitigate the onset of clinical psychosis, while also treating comorbid issues. It is important to consider issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in CHR-P work, especially as these programs continue to proliferate around the world. Further, there is a long history in psychiatry of misdiagnosing and mistreating psychosis in individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups. Although there have been significant developments in early intervention psychosis work, there is evidence that marginalized groups are underserved by current CHR-P screening and intervention efforts. These issues are compounded by the contexts of continued social marginalization and significant mental health disparities in general child/adolescent services. Within this narrative review and call to action, we use an intersectional and minority stress lens to review and discuss current issues related to equity in CHR-P services, offer evidence-based recommendations, and propose next steps. In particular, our intersectional and minority stress lenses incorporate perspectives for a range of marginalized and underserved identities related to race, ethnicity, and culture; faith; immigration status; geography/residence; gender identity; sexual orientation; socioeconomic status/class; and ability status.

Perceived Family Functioning Profile in Adolescents at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: Rigidity as a Possible Preventive Target

The presence of a positive family relationship has been suggested as a protective factor from parental stress and from the development of full-blown psychosis. However, to date, there is limited research on family functioning in adolescents with psychosis and at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P). This study is aimed at comparing family functioning and perceived stress in parents of adolescents with either CHR-P, early onset psychosis (EOP), or other psychiatric disorders (no CHR-P). As a secondary aim, it will correlate family functioning with parental perceived stress in order to find critical targets of intervention. We conducted a Reporting of Studies Conducted Using Observational Routinely-Collected Health Data (RECORD)-compliant, real-world, cross-sectional study. One-hundred and eleven adolescents aged 12-17 who access the institute of hospitalization and care with scientific character (IRCCS) Mondino Foundation Neuropsychiatric services (Pavia, Italy) between 2017 and 2020 and their parents (n = 222) were included. Sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents and their parents were collected. Family functioning was evaluated through the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-IV (FACES-IV) and the level of stress through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Twenty adolescents had EOP, 38 had CHR-P, and 59 had no CHR-P. In total, 2.6% of CHR-P adolescents were adopted, 76.3% had separated-divorced parents, and 34.2% of parents had a depressive disorder. Among the FACES-IV sub-scale, maternal rigidity was progressively increased from no-CHR-P to CHR-P to EOP group, with statistical differences between EOP and the other two groups (p = 0.01). CHR-P mothers and fathers showed a high level of PSS values, without group difference. Lastly, PSS values correlated positively with the Rigidity, Disengagement, and Chaos scale of FACES-IV and negatively with the Communication scale (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that family functioning has a central role and could represent a worthwhile target of intervention for adolescents at CHR-P, leading the way to new preventive approaches.

Positive psychotic symptoms in childhood and adolescence

Based on the assumption of a universal neurodevelopmental model of psychosis, especially of the schizophrenia spectrum, the diagnosis (and treatment) of psychosis in minors commonly follows those in adults. Yet, as our review demonstrates, recent years have seen an emergence of studies of minors indicating that developmental aspects may play a crucial role in the prevalence and appraisal of diagnostically relevant positive psychotic symptoms in their full-blown and subthreshold forms, including neurobiogenetic and other risk factors, such as migration. Thus, caution is advised to not overpathologize potentially transient and clinically irrelevant occurrence of (subthreshold) positive psychotic symptoms in the diagnosis and treatment of psychotic disorders and their clinical high-risk states in minors. More studies on developmental aspects are urgently needed.

Recent stressful life events and stress sensitivity in children and adolescents at clinical risk for psychosis

Although psychosocial stress is consistently described as a casual factor for psychosis, the role of recent stressful life events (SLEs) is inconclusive. Studies with subjects with psychosis risk syndrome (PRS), fail to show a large number of SLEs but suggest greater stress sensitivity in these populations. We evaluate the presence of recent SLEs and stress sensitivity, and their relationship with symptoms and functionality in a sample consisting exclusively of help-seeking children and adolescents. Seventy-two 10- to 17-year-old help-seeking subjects who met PRS criteria and forty-two healthy control (HC) subjects participated in a naturalistic multi-site study. Measures of stress included the Stressful Life Events Schedule (SLES) and the G4 item of the Scale for Prodromal Syndromes (SOPS) scale. Child and adolescent PRS subjects presented greater number of SLEs during the previous year, greater total accumulated stress, greater sensitivity to stress, and more impaired tolerance to normal stress than did HC subjects. Stress measures showed a relationship with positive and negative attenuated symptoms, clinical variables and functionality. Our results support the role of stress in the PRS status. It reinforces the suggested differences for clinical presentation of PRS in terms of age, highlighting the importance of gathering data on the under-18 population.

Prognostic Accuracy of DSM-5 Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome in Adolescents: Prospective Real-World 5-Year Cohort Study

There is limited research in adolescents at risk for psychosis. The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition attenuated psychosis syndrome (DSM-5 APS) criteria have not been validated in this group. We conducted a RECORD-compliant, real-world, prospective, 5-year cohort study addressing clinical profile, transition to psychosis, and prognostic accuracy of DSM-5 APS in help-seeking inpatient/outpatient adolescents accessing Children and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric services at IRCCS Mondino Foundation (Pavia, Lombardy, Italy) between 2012 and 2019. About 243 adolescents (31 early-onset psychosis [EOP]; 110 meeting DSM-5 APS criteria, DSM-5 APS; 102 not meeting psychotic or DSM-5 APS criteria, non-APS) were included. At baseline, DSM-5 APS adolescents (aged 15.4 ± 1.6) had on average 2.3 comorbid disorders (higher than EOP/non-APS, P < .001). DSM-5 APS adolescents had an intermediate psychopathological profile between non-APS/EOP (P < .001) and worsen Clinical Global Impression-Severity than non-APS (P < .001). DSM-5 APS functioning was intermediate between non-APS and EOP. 39.1% of DSM-5 APS were treated with psychotropic drugs (average = 64 days); 53.6% received psychotherapy. Follow-up of DSM-5 APS and non-APS groups lasted 33 and 26 months, respectively (median). The cumulative risk of transition at 1-5 years was 13%, 17%, 24.2%, 26.8%, and 26.8% in the DSM-5 APS group, 0%, 0%, 3.2%, 3.2%, and 3.2% in the non-APS group. The 5-year prognostic accuracy of the DSM-5 APS in adolescent was adequate (area under the curve = 0.77; Harrell's C = 0.736, 95%CI 0.697-0.775), with high sensitivity (91.3%) and suboptimal specificity (63.2%). The DSM-5 APS diagnosis can be used to detect help-seeking adolescents at risk of psychosis and predict their long-term outcomes. Future research should consolidate these findings.

Annual Research Review: Prevention of psychosis in adolescents - systematic review and meta-analysis of advances in detection, prognosis and intervention

BACKGROUND

The clinical high-risk state for psychosis (CHR-P) paradigm has facilitated the implementation of psychosis prevention into clinical practice; however, advancements in adolescent CHR-P populations are less established.

METHODS

We performed a PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review of the Web of Science database, from inception until 7 October 2019, to identify original studies conducted in CHR-P children and adolescents (mean age <18 years). Findings were systematically appraised around core themes: detection, prognosis and intervention. We performed meta-analyses (employing Q statistics and I ² test) regarding the proportion of CHR-P subgroups, the prevalence of baseline comorbid mental disorders, the risk of psychosis onset and the type of interventions received at baseline. Quality assessment and publication bias were also analysed.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven articles were included (n = 4,667 CHR-P individuals). Quality of studies ranged from 3.5 to 8 (median 5.5) on a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Detection: Individuals were aged 15.6 ± 1.2 years (51.5% males), mostly (83%) presenting with attenuated positive psychotic symptoms. CHR-P psychometric accuracy improved when caregivers served as additional informants. Comorbid mood (46.4%) and anxiety (31.4%) disorders were highly prevalent. Functioning and cognition were impaired. Neurobiological studies were inconclusive.

PROGNOSIS

Risk for psychosis was 10.4% (95%CI: 5.8%-18.1%) at 6 months, 20% (95%CI: 15%-26%) at 12 months, 23% (95%CI: 18%-29%) at 24 months and 23.3% (95%CI: 17.3%-30.7%) at ≥36 months.

INTERVENTIONS

There was not enough evidence to recommend one specific treatment (including cognitive behavioural therapy) over the others (including control conditions) to prevent the transition to psychosis in this population. Randomised controlled trials suggested that family interventions, cognitive remediation and fish oil supplementation may improve cognition, symptoms and functioning. At baseline, 30% of CHR-P adolescents were prescribed antipsychotics and 60% received psychotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to detect and formulate a group-level prognosis in adolescents at risk for psychosis. Future interventional research is required.

A Neurodevelopment Approach for a Transitional Model of Early Onset Schizophrenia

In the last decades, the conceptualization of schizophrenia has dramatically changed, moving from a neurodegenerative process occurring in early adult life to a neurodevelopmental disorder starting be-fore birth, showing a variety of premorbid and prodromal symptoms and, in relatively few cases, evolving in the full-blown psychotic syndrome. High rates of co-occurring different neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, predating the onset of SCZ, and neurobio-logical underpinning with significant similarities, support the notion of a pan-developmental disturbance consisting of impairments in neuromotor, receptive language, social and cognitive development. Con-sidering that many SCZ risk factors may be similar to symptoms of other neurodevelopmental psychi-atric disorders, transition processes from child & adolescent to adult systems of care should include both high risk people as well as subject with other neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders with different levels of severity. This descriptive mini-review discuss the need of innovative clinical approaches, re-considering specific diagnostic categories, stimulating a careful analysis of risk factors and promoting the appropriate use of new and safer medications.

Combined individual and family therapy in comparison to treatment as usual for people at-risk of psychosis: A feasibility study (IF CBT): Trial rationale, methodology and baseline characteristics

AIMS

Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for psychosis recommend psychological therapy with or without family intervention for individuals at-risk of developing psychosis. NICE guidelines have a specific research recommendation to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of combined individual and family intervention. We report the rationale, design and baseline characteristics of a feasibility study which aimed to investigate combined Individual and Family Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (IFCBT) for those at-risk of developing psychosis.

METHODS

The IFCBT study was a single blind, pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare a combined individual and family Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) intervention to treatment as usual. Participants were assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of the At-risk Mental State (CAARMS) and randomly allocated to either therapy or enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU). All participants were followed up at 6 and 12 months. Primary feasibility outcomes were recruitment and retention of participants. Secondary outcomes included transition to psychosis and assessment of mood, anxiety and the relationship of the individual and nominated family member.

RESULTS

We report data showing entry into the study from initial enquiry to randomization. We report the characteristics of the recruited sample of individuals (n = 70) and family members (n = 70) at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

The study recruited to 92% of target demonstrating it is feasible to identify and recruit participants. Our study aimed to add to the current evidence base regarding the utility of family interventions for people at-risk of psychosis.

Combined pattern of childhood psycho-behavioral characteristics in patients with schizophrenia: a retrospective study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Although epidemiological and genetic studies have provided scientific evidence that places schizophrenia into the framework of early neurodevelopmental disorders, the psycho-behavioral characteristics of children that later go on to develop schizophrenia have not been sufficiently clarified. This study aimed to retrospectively identify characteristics specific to patients with schizophrenia during childhood via their guardians' reporting of these characteristics.

METHODS

Participants included 54 outpatients with schizophrenia in their twenties who fulfilled DSM-IV-TR criteria. Additionally, 192 normal healthy subjects participated as sex- and age-matched controls. The guardians of all participants were recruited to rate participants' childhood characteristics from 6 to 8 years of age on a modified version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), which was used as a retrospective assessment questionnaire. Using t-tests, logistic regression, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, we estimated the psycho-behavioral characteristics specific to schizophrenia during childhood. Using the obtained logistic regression model, we prototyped a risk-predicting algorithm based on the CBCL scores.

RESULTS

Among the eight CBCL subscale t-scores, "withdrawn" (p = 0.002), "thought problems" (p = 0.001), and "lack of aggressive behavior" (p = 0.002) were each significantly associated with the later diagnosis of schizophrenia, although none of these mean scores were in the clinical range at the time of childhood. The algorithm of the logistic regression model, based on eight CBCL subscales, had an area under the ROC curve of 82.8% (95% CI: 76-89%), which indicated that this algorithm's prediction of late development of schizophrenia has moderate accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that according to guardian reports, participants showed psycho-behavioral characteristics during childhood, different to those of healthy controls, which could be predictive of the later development of schizophrenia. Our newly developed algorithm is available to use in future studies to further test its validity.

Neuropsychological profile of children and adolescents with psychosis risk syndrome: the CAPRIS study

Neuropsychological underperformance is well described in young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis, but the literature is scarce on the cognitive profile of at-risk children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to describe the neuropsychological profile of a child and adolescent sample of patients with psychosis risk syndrome (PRS) compared to healthy controls and to analyze associations between attenuated psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment. Cross-sectional baseline data analysis from a longitudinal, naturalistic, case-control, two-site study is presented. Eighty-one help-seeking subjects with PRS and 39 healthy controls (HC) aged between 10 and 17 years of age were recruited. PRS was defined by: positive or negative attenuated symptoms, Brief Limited Intermittent Psychotic Symptoms (BLIPS), genetic risk (first- or second-degree relative), or schizotypal personality disorder plus impairment in functioning. A neuropsychological battery was administered to assess general intelligence, verbal and visual memory, visuospatial abilities, speed processing, attention, and executive functions. The PRS group showed lower general neuropsychological performance scores at a multivariate level and lower scores than controls in general intelligence and executive functions. Lower scores on executive function and poorer attention were associated with high scores of positive attenuated psychotic symptoms. No association with attenuated negative symptoms was found. This study provides evidence of cognitive impairment in PRS children and adolescents and shows a relationship between greater cognitive impairment in executive functions and attention tasks and severe attenuated positive symptoms. However, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the nature of cognitive impairment as a possible vulnerability marker.

Electroretinography may reveal cognitive impairment among a cohort of subjects at risk of a major psychiatric disorder

INTRODUCTION

Almost a third of the offspring of parents diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder could develop a mental disorder or related symptoms. The objectives of this study were to test the existence of two distinct subgroups of youth at-risk, according to their retinal response to luminance measured with electroretinography (ERG), and to relate the resulting cluster memberships with the cognitive clusters previously reported.

METHODOLOGY

A clustering analysis was performed with ERG measurements in 107 at-risk offspring. Each subgroup was compared to a healthy control group of 203 individuals. The ERG subgroup memberships were then associated with the cognitive clusters.

RESULTS

A two-cluster solution was obtained: HR-Cluster1 (n=53) showed a control-like ERG profile and HR-Cluster2 (n=54) showed reduced rod amplitudes and prolonged cone latencies of the b-wave. Subjects in the HR-Cluster2 were 2.7 times more likely to belong to the most detrimental cognitive subgroup than subjects in the HR-Cluster1 (49% Vs 18%).

CONCLUSION

At-risk offspring showed two distinct ERG profiles: a control-like and an altered profile. A higher risk of impaired cognitive function was observed in subjects with the altered ERG profile, suggesting the ERG as a potential biomarker of susceptibility to mental illness among youth at risk.

Clinical profile, conversion rate, and suicidal thinking and behaviour in children and adolescents at ultra-high risk for psychosis: a theoretical perspective

Over the past years there has been substantial growing interest in the prodromes of psychosis to identify individuals at risk for psychosis prior to their first psychotic episode. Researchers have proposed criteria to detect young adults at Ultra-High Risk (UHR) for psychosis, and these criteria have also been applied to children and adolescents, though few clinical studies have examined this population. This theoretical perspective presents some of the crucial issues in the assessment and treatment of UHR children and adolescents: the presence of a specific clinical profile (i.e., different to that of healthy controls and UHR young adults), the predictive value of UHR criteria, and the presence and clinical significance of suicidal thinking and behaviour. In UHR children and adolescents, like UHR young adults, the presence of Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms (APS) is the most frequently reported inclusion criterion at baseline, with a prevalence of approximately 89–100%. In addition, there are frequently non-psychotic comorbid diagnoses of depressive and anxiety disorders. In contrast to the UHR adult population, UHR children and adolescents demonstrate a lower conversion rate to frank psychosis, most likely due to their high rate of APS. Finally, UHR adolescents report a high prevalence of suicidal ideation and self-injurious behaviour (67.5%), as well as a significantly greater frequency of attempted suicide, relative to adolescents with frank psychosis. On this basis, UHR children and adolescents report a clinical complexity that should be carefully monitored and considered for specific and targeted therapeutic interventions to be planned and developed.

Suicidal Thinking and Behavior in Adolescents at Ultra-High Risk of Psychosis: A Two-year Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

Suicide risk in subjects at Ultra-High Risk of psychosis (UHR) has been rarely assessed in adolescence, but it is of obvious importance for prognostic and clinical care reasons. In this study, we aimed to prospectively assess suicide risk and behaviors in UHR adolescents.

METHOD

We examined 112 help-seeking adolescents (13-18 years, 50% males, 83.9% Caucasian) that were enrolled in the Reggio Emilia At-Risk Mental States (ReARMS) project and followed up for 2 years. Specific items derived from the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used to assess suicide risk. Suicide attempts and completed suicides were also recorded.

RESULTS

Baseline assessment detected 40 UHR adolescents, 32 FEP (first-episode psychosis), and 40 non-UHR/FEP. We found that 67.5% of UHR adolescents had suicidal ideation, and 18.5% to severe degree. Attempted suicide before enrollment was higher in the UHR group than in non-UHR/FEP peers (17.5% vs. 2.5%). BDI-II suicidal ideation severity was stable at 12-month follow-up and decreased at 24-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of suicidal ideation among UHR adolescents was found and supports the routine monitoring of risk of self-injurious thinking and behavior in this at-risk population.

Characterization of children and adolescents with psychosis risk syndrome: The Children and Adolescents Psychosis Risk Syndrome (CAPRIS) study

AIM

Despite the interest in psychosis risk syndrome (PRS) in children and adolescents, information on the syndrome in this population is scarce.

METHODS

Prospective naturalistic multi-site study in which 10- to 17-year-old help-seeking subjects who met PRS criteria (positive or negative attenuated symptoms; brief limited intermittent psychotic symptoms; genetic risk or schizotypal personality disorder plus impairment in functioning) were included, along with 45 age and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). All subjects were clinically and functionally assessed.

RESULTS

Ninety-one PRS subjects (PRSS) with a mean age of 15.5 ± 1.4 met inclusion criteria (IC). Compared with HC, PRSS presented worse global and academic functioning in the previous year, had experienced more psychiatric and psychological problems, and presented gestational ages outside the normal range. More than 80% of PRSS met ≥2 IC, with 65.9% having one Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revision diagnosis, and 61.7% of those having ≥2 diagnoses. Some 49.5% of PRSS had a first- or second-degree family history (FH) of psychosis. Patients with first- and second-degree FH do not differ in their clinical expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Children and adolescents with PRS are a patient group with a pattern of neurodevelopmental impairment and clinical complexity similar to patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, highlighting the importance of assessing these variables in child and adolescent samples. PRSS with first- and second-degree relatives with FH do not present differences in their clinical presentation, suggesting that including these two groups of patients in the genetic risk criteria would enrich knowledge of these criteria.

Clinical high risk for psychosis in childhood and adolescence: findings from the 2-year follow-up of the ReARMS project

The clinical significance and the prognostic value of clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, while substantially corroborated in adults, remains less firmly established in children and early adolescents. This follow-up study, developed within the Reggio Emilia At Risk Mental States project, is meant to contribute to the reduction of such lacuna, and has two main aims: (1) to characterize the clinical profile of help seekers [stratified in non-CHR, CHR and first episode psychosis (FEP)] referred to child-adolescent mental health services; and (2) to monitor the cumulative transition rate from CHR to FEP in adolescents at the follow-up of 12 and 24 months. 112 adolescents (aged 13-18 years) were assessed with the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States and the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument, Child and Youth version. 51 subjects met CHR criteria (45.5% of the sample) and 33 subjects met FEP criteria (29.5%) at baseline. The criterial transition rate from CHR to FEP was 7% over 12 months and 13% over 24 months; higher rates of cumulative transition were detected when also functional transition (indexed by the consensual introduction of antipsychotic medication by the treating clinical staff) was considered. The identification of CHR for psychosis in help-seeking adolescents is feasible and clinically relevant. Studies conducted in real world, publicly funded components of the national health system, should take into consideration not only criterial, psychometric transition, but also functional equivalents of transition.

Longitudinal changes in social cognition in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis: An outcome based analysis

Social cognition deficits have been observed in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. Longitudinal change in social cognition were analyzed in CHR individuals from the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS2) based on outcome at 24 months. Individuals (n = 359) were classified into remission, symptomatic, prodromal progression and transition to psychosis (CHR-T) groups. Social cognition was assessed using theory of mind, emotion perception, and social perception tasks. There were no differences at baseline or 24 months between the groups on social cognition. Non-transition groups improved significantly over time on social cognition, but CHR-T did not show this effect.

Expressed emotion (EE) in families of individuals at-risk of developing psychosis: A systematic review

The At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) for psychosis describes a state of high but not inevitable risk for developing a psychotic disorder. The distressing experiences for individuals with an ARMS may impact on themselves; their sense of wellbeing, psychosocial functioning and their family. Expressed emotion (EE) considers the environment and communication style of relatives towards the individual and is a key factor for determining outcomes in established psychosis. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of EE in relatives of ARMS was conducted. Fifteen studies were identified that investigated the presence of EE in the ARMS population. Approximately one third of ARMS relatives had high-EE. The results suggest that greater levels of criticism are associated with higher levels of symptoms and poorer functioning. In contradiction to psychosis literature, the construct emotional-over-involvement was found to be an adaptive response, where an optimal level of involvement combined with a warm-environment was associated with improved functioning and reduced symptoms. Limitations of the studies include small sample sizes and over-representation of Caucasian males and relatives as middle-aged mothers. Although approximately half of the studies included were longitudinal, only two measured EE over time, therefore, future research should include larger studies measuring EE at different time-points.