Abstract
Onset of psychosis may be associated with abnormal adolescent neurodevelopment. Here we examined the neurocognitive profile
of first-episode, adolescent onset psychosis (AOP) as compared to typically developing adolescents, and asked whether neurocognitive
performance varied differentially as a function of age in the cases compared with controls. A comprehensive neuropsychological
battery was administered to 35 patients experiencing a first-episode of a DSM-IV psychotic disorder and to 31 matched controls.
Clinicians also rated subjects’ social and role functioning, both at the time of neuropsychological assessment and 1 year
later. Although patients displayed a wide range of impairments relative to controls, their most pronounced deficits included
verbal memory, sensorimotor dexterity and cognitive processing speed. Among these, only processing speed showed a significant
group-by-age interaction, consistent with an aberrant developmental course among AOP patients. Processing speed also accounted
for substantial variance in other areas of deficit, and predicted social functioning 1 year later. AOP patients fail to show
normal age-related increases in processing speed, which in turn predicts poorer functional outcomes. This pattern is consistent
with the view that adolescent brain developmental processes, such as myelination, may be disrupted in these patients.
of first-episode, adolescent onset psychosis (AOP) as compared to typically developing adolescents, and asked whether neurocognitive
performance varied differentially as a function of age in the cases compared with controls. A comprehensive neuropsychological
battery was administered to 35 patients experiencing a first-episode of a DSM-IV psychotic disorder and to 31 matched controls.
Clinicians also rated subjects’ social and role functioning, both at the time of neuropsychological assessment and 1 year
later. Although patients displayed a wide range of impairments relative to controls, their most pronounced deficits included
verbal memory, sensorimotor dexterity and cognitive processing speed. Among these, only processing speed showed a significant
group-by-age interaction, consistent with an aberrant developmental course among AOP patients. Processing speed also accounted
for substantial variance in other areas of deficit, and predicted social functioning 1 year later. AOP patients fail to show
normal age-related increases in processing speed, which in turn predicts poorer functional outcomes. This pattern is consistent
with the view that adolescent brain developmental processes, such as myelination, may be disrupted in these patients.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-011-9592-5
- Authors
- Peter Bachman, Semel Institute of Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, BOX 951759, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1759, USA
- Tara A. Niendam, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California – Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Maria Jalbrzikowkski, Department of Psychology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Chan Y. Park, Department of Psychology, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Melita Daley, Semel Institute of Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, BOX 951759, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1759, USA
- Tyrone D. Cannon, Semel Institute of Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, BOX 951759, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1759, USA
- Carrie E. Bearden, Semel Institute of Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, BOX 951759, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1759, USA
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627