Abstract

AIM
Risk of psychosis is defined by the presence of positive psychotic-like symptoms, by subtle self-perceived cognitive and perceptual deficiencies, or by decreased functioning with familial risk of psychosis. We studied the associations of psychiatric outpatients' self-reported functioning and interpersonal relationships with vulnerability to and risk of psychosis.
METHODS
A total of 790 young patients attending psychiatric outpatient care completed the PROD screen [Heinimaa M, Salokangas RKR, Ristkari T, Plathin M, Huttunen J, Ilonen T, et al. PROD-screen - a screen for prodromal symptoms of psychosis. Int J Meth Psychiatr Res 2003;12:92-04.], including questions on functioning, interpersonal relationships and subtle specific (psychotic-like) and non-specific symptoms. Vulnerability to psychosis was assessed employing the patient's written descriptions of specific symptoms. Of the patients vulnerable to psychosis, those at current risk of psychosis were assessed using the Bonn Scale for Assessment of Basic Symptoms [Schultze-Lutter F, Klosterkötter J. Bonn scale for assessment of basic symptoms - prediction list, BSABS-P. Cologne: University of Cologne; 2002] and the Structured Interview for Positive symptoms [Miller TJ, McGlashan TH, Rosen JL, Somjee L, Markovich PJ, Stein K, et al. Prospective diagnosis of the initial prodrome for schizophrenia based on the structured interview for prodromal syndromes: preliminary evidence of interrater reliability and predictive validity. Am J Psychiatry 2002;159:863-65.].
RESULTS
In all, 219 patients vulnerable to and 55 patients at current risk of psychosis were identified. Vulnerability to psychosis was associated with all items of functioning and interpersonal relationships. Current risk of psychosis, however, was associated only with the subjectively reported negative attitude of others. Negative attitude of others was also associated with feelings of reference at both vulnerability and risk levels.
CONCLUSION
The subjective experience of negative attitude of others towards oneself may be an early indicator of psychotic development.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Salokangas RK, Heinimaa M, Svirskis T, Laine T, Huttunen J, Ristkari T, Ilonen T, Korkeila J, Vaskelainen L, Rekola J, Hietala J, Klosterkötter J, Ruhrmann S, Graf von Reventlow H, Linszen D, Dingemans P, Birchwood M, Patterson P, EPOS Group

Institution

Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. raimo.k.r.salokangas@tyks.fi

Source

European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists 24:4 2009 May pg 233-8

MeSH

Adolescent
Adult
Ambulatory Care
Attitude to Health
Early Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychotic Disorders
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenic Psychology
Self Concept
Social Adjustment
Social Perception

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

19201166