Scoping Review: Digital Mental Health Interventions for Children and Adolescents Affected by War.

OBJECTIVE: More than 200 million children and adolescents live in countries affected by violent conflict, are likely to have complex mental health needs, and struggle to access traditional mental health services. Digital mental health interventions have the potential to overcome some of the barriers in accessing mental health support. We performed a scoping review to map existing digital mental health interventions relevant for children and adolescents affected by war, to examine the strength of the evidence base, and to inform the development of future interventions. METHOD: Based on a pre-registered strategy, we systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, APA PsychInfo, and Google Scholar from the creation of each database to September 30, 2022, identifying k = 6,843 studies. Our systematic search was complemented by extensive consultation with experts from the GROW Network. RESULTS: The systematic search identified 6 relevant studies: 1 study evaluating digital mental health interventions for children and adolescents affected by war, and 5 studies for those affected by disasters. Experts identified 35 interventions of possible relevance. The interventions spanned from universal prevention to specialist-guided treatment. Most interventions directly targeted young people and parents or carers/caregivers and were self-guided. A quarter of the interventions were tested through randomized controlled trials. Because most interventions were not culturally or linguistically adapted to relevant contexts, their implementation potential was unclear. CONCLUSION: There is very limited evidence for the use of digital mental health interventions for children and adolescents affected by war at present. The review provides a framework to inform the development of new interventions. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT: We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. STUDY PREREGISTRATION INFORMATION: Digital mental health interventions for children and young people affected by war: a scoping review; https://osf.io/; hrny9.

The place of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of depressive disorders in children and adolescents. Recommendations of the Main Board of the Polish Psychiatric Association. Part 1 - Clinical efficacy and areas of application. / Miejsce selektywnych inhibitorów zwrotnego wychwytu serotoniny (SSRI) w leczeniu zaburzen depresyjnych u dzieci i mlodziezy. Rekomendacje Zarzadu Glównego Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychiatrycznego. Cz. I ­ Skutecznosc kliniczna i obszary zastosowania.

In the adult population of patients with major depression, both psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions are effective, but antidepressants remain the mainstay of treatment. In the case of child and adolescent psychiatry, there is still controversy over whether to use pharmacological interventions and which drug to prefer. Although psychotherapeutic treatment is still considered a first-line treatment, antidepressants are widely used to treat depression in children and adolescents, and the number of medications prescribed for this indication has increased over time. In Poland, about 57,000 patients under 18 years of age currently use reimbursed antidepressants. Antidepressants are generally effective and well tolerated by children, but between 31% and 48% will not respond to them and up to 25% will experience side effects. The aim of the study was to present the effectiveness and tolerance of antidepressants used in depression in the pediatric population. Among all SSRIs, the largest amount of data from short-term RCTs and their meta-analyses indicate the effectiveness of fluoxetine in patients diagnosed with depression < 18 years of age. which still makes it the drug of first choice in this indication. However, the results of meta-analyses do not allow to draw clear conclusions as to the effectiveness of individual SSRIs in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. Single placebo-controlled studies show the efficacy of sertraline, escitalopram and citalopram in the treatment of depression in patients <18 years of age, making them important treatment options worth considering. There is no reliable evidence on the effectiveness of fluvoxamine.

The place of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of depressive disorders in children and adolescents. Recommendations of the Main Board of the Polish Psychiatric Association. Part 2 - pharmacological properties and safety of use. / Miejsce selektywnych inhibitorów zwrotnego wychwytu serotoniny (SSRI) w leczeniu zaburzen depresyjnych u dzieci i mlodziezy. Rekomendacje Zarzadu Glównego Polskiego towarzystwa Psychiatrycznego. Cz. II ­ wlasciwosci farmakologiczne i bezpieczenstwo stosowania.

The aim of the study was to review studies evaluating the pharmacodynamic properties of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and their safety. SSRIs in patients <18 years of age sometimes have different pharmacokinetic parameters compared to adults, which has a significant impact on their effectiveness and tolerance. The concentration of fluoxetine, fluvoxamine or paroxetine is about 2 times higher in children compared to adolescents and adults, which should be taken into account at the stage of both drug introduction and setting target doses. In the event of significant problems with the selection of the drug and / or dose of the drug due to unsatisfactory efficacy and / or tolerance in a patient < 18 years of age, examination of the dominant polymorphism for the metabolism of a given isoenzyme may be very important. SSRIs are generally well tolerated in patients less than 18 years of age and the majority of adverse reactions (TEAEs) during treatment are mild or moderate. Most RCTs evaluating the efficacy of SSRIs in depression in patients <18 years of age rates of suicidal ideation or suicidal ideation during follow-up are comparable to placebo, suicide attempts are rare, and isolated cases occur in both the active treatment groups and the placebo arm. There was no statistically significant increased risk for antidepressants (including all SSRIs) or psychotherapy or combinations of antidepressants with psychotherapy (except venlafaxine). Only venlafaxine therapy was associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior and/or ideation in short-term therapy compared to placebo.

Polish Psychiatric Association diagnostic and therapeutic management guidelines for patients with early-onset schizophrenia. / Rekomendacje Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychiatrycznego w zakresie postepowania diagnostycznego i terapeutycznego u chorych ze schizofrenia o wczesnym poczatku.

Early onset of schizophrenia (before the age of 18 years) is associated with a higher risk of delayed or missed diagnosis, more severe course of the disease, and an increased susceptibility to adverse reactions to antipsychotic drugs. The objective of this paper is to present the recommendations for the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with early-onset schizophrenia, developed on the basis of a literature review and a consensus of a group of experts working with schizophrenia therapy. The formal criteria that must be met to diagnose schizophrenia are the same for children and adults. Early-onset schizophrenia must be thoroughly differentiated from uni - or bipolar affective disorder, autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) and anxiety disorder. Diagnostic assessment for psychotic disorders is also necessary in the case of abnormal, destructive or aggressive behaviour, or self-harm. The mainstay of schizophrenia treatment is pharmacological therapy, which is used in the treatment of acute episodes and in maintenance treatment - prevention of relapses. However, the use of pharmacological interventions in children and adolescents only to reduce the risk of psychosis development is not justified. Antipsychotic agents significantly differ by their tolerance profile and clinical efficacy. Second-generation antipsychotic agents approved for the treatment of early-onset schizophrenia - aripiprazole, lurasidone and paliperidone - enable its effective and safe treatment. The necessary complement to pharmacological therapy is non-pharmacological interventions that should be adapted to the patient's age, cognitive abilities, disease stage and the needs of the whole family.

Analysis of research on the effectiveness of using probiotics for children with autism spectrum disorders, in order to reduce the core and accompanying autism symptoms. Review of randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased tenfold over the last 40 years and the World Health Organization (WHO) has placed it alongside other globally occurring common illnesses, such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. As there are yet no effective methods for treating ASD, the most frequently used therapeutic interventions are psychological, psychosocial, rehabilitation and developmental support, which in combination aim to support patients and their families. Early intervention improves the prognosis, but usually a cure is impossible. Patient's lives are often burdened with social difficulties in contact with their families, peers and in education, particularly when other disorders, diseases or intellectual impairment are present, leading to undesirable behaviours, including aggression or self-aggression. Aim of the study was to review the literature available, so as to determine the effectiveness of probiotics used for treating core and accompanying symptoms of autism in patients diagnosed with ASD, with a particular focus on children and adolescents. Views: The randomised clinical trials available on the clinicaltrials.gov register (accessed on June 27th, 2021) and the PubMed database (search: probiotic + autism, probiotic + ASD, probiotic + Asperger syndrome, probiotic + pervasive developmental disorder, randomised controlled trial filter) have been analysed in the present study. All studies were included, without any operational time limit. The same PubMed search was also re-run for open-label trials. Out of the 140 papers found, five were open-trials. We also supplemented our study by additionally analysing the studies cited by the latest papers on probiotics in autism. Conclusions: There are still no consistent outcomes in studies on the use of probiotics in children and adolescents with ASD, and the scope of existing studies is limited. Nevertheless, the authors considered it worthwhile to explore whether probiotic interventions can indeed reduce the severity of ASD-related symptoms and behaviours. Further studies are required on specific indications, duration of treatment and the effectiveness of interventions in the defined problem areas.

ECT in an Adolescent With Schizophrenia and Seizures: Case Report.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been recognized as an effective treatment option in catatonia, and for prolonged or severe affective episodes and schizophrenia. Response rates vary from 40 to 80% in adolescents. The procedure is safe if the required precautions are undertaken. Nonetheless, ECT remains a serious clinical challenge in patients with comorbid seizures. We present a case study of a 17-year-old female student suffering from schizophrenia who was scheduled for ECT due to prior treatment inefficacy. Seizures had occurred a few days before the first ECT session. Nevertheless, the patient received the ECT course, combined with clozapine at 125 mg/day, after neurological diagnosis and treatment modification because the illness became life-threatening. The patient's clinical outcome was satisfactory without any seriously adverse events and further improvements were observed in the mental state following long-term psychosocial treatment at our inpatient unit. A few months later, epilepsy was however diagnosed with probably coexistence of partial seizures and seizure-like events without EEG correlate. Administering ECT in patients with seizure comorbidity was also investigated based on previous research. Data on this is, however, extremely scarce and to the best of our knowledge, the safety and efficacy of using ECT in adolescents with schizophrenia and seizures has yet not to any great extent been discussed in the literature.

Ectodermal disturbance in development shared by anorexia and schizophrenia may reflect neurodevelopmental abnormalities.

Minor physical abnormalities (MPA) are subtle dysmorphic features of bodily structures that have little or no impact on function. Most MPA develop during the first gestational trimester and are considered as important indicators of neuroectodermal deficiencies emerging during early brain development. A higher frequency of MPA was confirmed in schizophrenia patients and their relatives, when compared to controls. These findings are consistent with the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. A neurodevelopmental component amongst other risk factors has also been recently proposed for anorexia nervosa (AN). The current study aimed to assess MPA frequency in adolescent inpatients with either schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) or AN as compared to healthy controls (HC). The Waldrop Scale was used for assessing MPA. The mean MPA total score and mean head subscore was significantly higher in both test groups than in HC. There were no statistically significant differences between SSD and AN groups. The MPA profile (not frequency) was similar in all three groups. This finding is consistent both with widely acknowledged neurodevelopmental schizophrenia hypothesis as well as with more recent neurodevelopmental model of AN. Nevertheless, the findings should not be overgeneralized and further studies are warranted.

Psychiatric Symptoms as the First or Solitary Manifestation of Somatic Illnesses: Hyperammonaemia Type II.

AIM: We describe the difficulties encountered in making a diagnosis where a somatic condition manifests itself alongside psychiatric symptoms associated with possible psychiatric comorbidities. METHODS: A case study is presented of a 15-year-old girl who was eventually diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency (hyperammonaemia type II), following an initial diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder, selective mutism, and anorexia nervosa. RESULTS: The OTC disease is not fully expressed in females and its prevalence is lower than in males. Around 17-20% of female patients found with a defective OTC gene on an X chromosome can suffer from OTC deficiency that may result in elevated levels of ammonia in the blood; this occurs when one of the X chromosomes become inactivated. Patients typically present with nausea, migraines, and a history of dietary protein avoidance. In more severe cases, ataxia, confusion, hallucinations, and cerebral oedema can occur. The OTC deficiency can thus remain undiagnosed in women for many years. CONCLUSION: Somatic comorbidity in psychiatric inpatients is commonly found; however, such disorders are rarely diagnosed or even treated adequately.

What exactly is catatonia in children and adolescents. / Czym jest katatonia u dzieci i mlodziezy.

The current study is a review of the literature on catatonia syndrome with focus on children and adolescent's specificity. Previous catatonia conceptualizations were significantly modified in the newest classification systems. Catatonia may be considered either a separate syndrome or a specifier of the course of other psychiatric disorders. Although diagnostic criteria for children and adolescent do not differ from those for adults, the clinical presentation and course may not be the same. In this age group relatively common are somatic conditions taking the form of catatonia. There is agrowing body of literature focused on catatonia in the course of pervasive developmental disorder. On the other hand, pervasive refusal syndrome and lethal catatonia are discussed in the literature, but they are not present in the classification systems. In the current paper basic treatment guidelines were also described. First-line treatment is the use of benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy. The diagnosis and treatmentof catatonia is of great practical importance. While improper diagnosis and non-optimal treatment may have fatal consequences, in the case of proper diagnosis an effective treatment may be administered.

Problems and Strengths in Psychiatric Nursing in Poland: Current Legal Regulations and Results of Survey.

Introduction: National health resources are considered inadequate to meet the needs of Mental Health services in Poland due in part to insufficient funding. The status of the nursing profession is autonomous and independent, and one that bears much public trust. Nevertheless, psychiatric nursing is in deep crisis.Aim of the study: To determine the strengths and limitations of the psychiatric nursing system in Poland.Method: Participants of a major Psychiatric Nursing Conference in Poland were surveyed in terms of professional job satisfaction and current problems encountered in psychiatric nursing. Results were appropriately categorized and subjected to quantitative analysis.Results: There were 74 subjects, amounting to a 70% response rate who completed the study questionnaire. Problem areas were focused on how the mental health system is organized and on staff working conditions that included terms of employment and salaries. The main reasons for job satisfaction were those issues associated with the treatment process. Two participants replied that they were not satisfied.Discussion: The numerous problems encountered in Polish psychiatry nursing require further debate and the updating of legal regulations to increase funding. Recently introduced regulations on the minimal standards acceptable for nurse/bed ratios have however been postponed until 2021. The issues concerning job satisfaction have also been referred to in previous studies.Implication for practice: The crisis facing psychiatric nursing in Poland requires systemic changes in both legal regulations and financing. Notwithstanding, such professionals and their societies could facilitate the necessary changes through enhancing public debate and stimulating nursing-focused research.

Inpatient psychiatric treatment is not always effective in adolescent sample.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies confirm efficacy of psychiatric treatment as well as psychiatric placebo. The aim of the current study was the assessment of improvement rate and factors associated with treatment response in naturalistic group of adolescent inpatients. METHODS: Eighty two consecutive adolescent inpatients were recruited. Each patient at the admission and discharge was assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), eating attitude test (EAT-26), clinical global impression scale (CGI-S) and children global assessment scale (CGAS). Individual and family history was assessed by semi-structured interview. Patients, who improved in at least two interviewer-based scales (IMP, n = 67) were compared to the rest (N-IMP, n = 15). For statistical analysis STATISTICA package was used. RESULTS: The main difference between groups was ICD-10 diagnosis distribution: in the IMP group more anxiety-related disorders (F4), in the N-IMP group more personality disorders (F6). Other differences include history of paediatric hospitalisations and surgery (more in the N-IMP group). Most of the analysed factors did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The inpatient treatment seems to be most effective in severe mental states and in anxiety-related disorders and least effective in personality disorders. Due to limited inpatient treatment efficacy we believe outpatients services are crucial in adolescent psychiatry.

Clinical significance of psychotic-like experiences in children and adolescents. / Znaczenie kliniczne doznan podobnych do psychotycznych u dzieci i mlodziezy.

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are subtle, subclinical hallucinations and delusions which are quite common in general population. In children and youth prevalence rate is probably age-dependent with higher rate in younger population. PLEs are suggested to be a form of extended psychosis phenotype. Similar demographic, genetic and environmental risk factors observed for PLEs and schizophrenia support this hypothesis. Other mental health problems associated with PLEs include depression, suicidality, low functioning and psychiatric comorbidity. PLEs may be a risk factor for psychosis, but probably only for a minor subgroup of population. It is possible however, that PLEs are a risk factor for different psychiatric disorders. In the majority of children and adolescents PLEs disappear over time. PLEs are supposed to be a heterogenic phenomenon with different subtypes: associated with psychosis risk, associated with other psychiatric disorders and being within the normal range of experiences. Due to lack of widely acknowledged PLEs definition and because of substantial diversity of research methodology interpretation of the previous research should be made with caution.

Executive functioning improves after remission of psychosis and may not deteriorate at short follow-up in early-onset schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive functions are important determinants of outcome in schizophrenia. Psychiatric hospitalization and intensive treatment in the early-onset psychosis may reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms and improve cognitive functions. It is not clear if after discharge improvement or further deterioration of cognition is observed. The aim of the current study is the evaluation of executive functioning in early onset schizophrenia (EOS) across stages of illness. METHODS: Two groups of EOS patients: hospitalized subjects with first episode (FES, n=16) at the introduction of pharmacotherapy (T1) and after mean 7 weeks (T2) and stable outpatients group (SO, n=24) were assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Matched healthy (n=32) controls were assessed with WCST. RESULTS: All patients performed significantly worse in WCST than healthy controls. Subjects in acute psychotic episode (FES T1) presented more pronounced executive impairment and psychopathological symptoms than after the resolution of psychotic symptoms (FES T2). No differences in executive function between FES T2 and SO group were observed. In all assessments perseverative errors correlated with negative symptoms. CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment is present at the onset of EOS and persists in attenuated but stable form after the resolution of psychotic symptoms.

Which aspects of long-term outcome are predicted by positive and negative symptoms in early-onset psychosis? An exploratory eight-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Early-onset psychoses show substantial variability of diagnostic and functional outcome. Finding reliable prognostic factors may allow to allocate resources to those with the worst prognosis. The aim of the study was to gain new insights regarding the potential value of baseline negative and positive symptoms as predictors of outcome in psychoses of early onset. METHOD: Sixty-three patients with early-onset schizophrenia spectrum psychosis hospitalized in an adolescent psychiatry unit were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale during the index admission. Associations with diagnosis, illness course and functional outcome were analysed in mean 8 years of follow-up (range 3.4-13.5 years). RESULTS: The mean age at the index admission and the follow-up was 16.6 ± 1.2 and 24.5 ± 3.0 years, respectively. A significant majority of subjects continued psychiatric treatment (95%) and had been readmitted (71%). The mortality rate was 3% (suicide and accident). Negative symptoms were related to mental health service utilization during the follow-up. General severity of symptoms, specifically positive and cognitive factors were associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia and inversely with diagnostic shift outside the schizophrenia spectrum at the catamnesis. Poor impulse control at baseline was associated with worse functional outcome. The drug-free subgroup with no occupational/educational activity compared with the drug-treated subjects showed lower levels of baseline negative symptomatology. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that in patients with early-onset psychosis negative and positive symptoms show a differential prognostic value. Pharmacotherapy may attenuate the effect of symptoms on functional outcome. These hypotheses need to be tested in future studies using confirmatory approaches.

Executive impairment predicts schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment status in mid-term follow-up of early-onset psychosis.

OBJECTIVES: Early-onset psychoses (EOP) vary considerably with regard to diagnostic stability and functional outcome. The aim of this study was the assessment of executive dysfunction as a predictor of outcome in EOP. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study. Twenty-five hospitalized patients with non-affective EOP were assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) during the index admission. Associations with current diagnosis, further admissions, current treatment status and occupational and relationship outcome were analyzed in 6 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age at the index admission and the follow-up was 16.1 ± 1.35 and 22.0 ± 2.1 years, respectively. After discharge, almost all subjects (96%) at least briefly continued psychiatric treatment, and the majority of them (76%) were readmitted. Worse baseline WCST results were associated with a follow-up schizophrenia diagnosis, being a psychiatric in- or outpatient at the moment of follow-up assessment and receiving psychotropic medication. A low number of completed categories correlated with receiving a disability pension at the follow-up. CONCLUSION: In patients with EOP, baseline executive function impairment was associated with schizophrenia diagnosis and psychiatric treatment at the follow-up. The association between baseline results and psychiatric treatment may explain the limited effect of baseline impairment on follow-up occupational and relationship status.

Adolescent insanity revisited: course and outcome in early-onset schizophrenia spectrum psychoses in an 8-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite inclusion of adolescent insanity-a concept proposed by Thomas Clouston in late XIX century-into the broader nosological entity of dementia praecox, the uniqueness of early psychosis is still discussed. The aim of the current study is the assessment of course and outcome in the large sample of early-onset psychosis subjects. METHOD: Of 299 patients hospitalized in the period 1998-2008 in an adolescent psychiatry ward with schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis 158 completed a follow-up interview. Data concerning current diagnosis, further admissions, current treatment status and occupational and relationship outcome were analyzed after a mean of 8 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age at the index admission and the follow-up was 16.6 ± 1.2 and 24.5 ± 3.0 years respectively. After the subsequent discharge almost all subjects (97%) at least briefly continued psychiatric treatment and 75% of patients had been readmitted. Overall diagnostic stability was 42%. For schizophrenia spectrum disorders and schizophrenia diagnostic stability was 72% and 78%, respectively. At the follow-up assessment 119 (77.3%) of the traced subjects declared current psychiatric treatment and 110 (73.3%) were receiving pharmacotherapy. Almost half of the subjects (48%) were employed or studying and more than a third (35.8%) remained in a stable relationship. Different distributions of baseline diagnoses were observed in males and females, and the latter showed a better outcome. CONCLUSION: Early-onset psychoses were characterized by limited diagnostic stability, a necessity for further treatment and hospitalizations and significant percentage of unfavorable functional outcomes. Baseline diagnosis of acute and transient psychotic disorders and female gender were associated with an overall better outcome.

[Retrospective analysis of the course of psychotic episodes in adolescent inpatients]. / Retrospektywna analiza przebiegu epizodów psychotycznych u hospitalizowanej mlodziezy.

AIM: Analysis of clinical presentations and course of psychotic episodes in adolescent inpatients. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of charts of all (n = 300) hospitalised patients diagnosed with of one of the schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (F20-F29) over a 10-year span period (1998-2008) was conducted at the Child and Adolescent Department of Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology. The distribution of diagnoses was compared with a sample of 200 adult hospitalisations. Also, the demographic and clinical data, percentage of rehospitalisations and stability of the diagnosis was analysed. RESULTS: The distribution of diagnoses in the schizophrenia spectrum of psychotic episodes was found to be different in adolescent patients than in adults. In further analysis of schizophrenia (F20), schizotypal disorder (F21), acute and transient psychotic disorder (F23) and schizoaffective disorder (F25) significant differences in the length of hospitalisation, gender distribution, frequency of rehospitalisation and stability of the diagnosis were observed. Stability of the diagnosis in the whole group was 52%. Schizophrenia was the most stable diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Distribution of schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses is different in adolescent and adult inpatients. In adolescents psychotic episodes other then schizophrenia are frequent. Diagnostic difficulties seemed to be confirmed by not very high diagnostic stability. However for F20, F21, F23 and F25 diagnoses different clinical and demographic profiles were observed, what may confirm that these disorders are separate nosological entities.

[Retrospective analysis of psychopathological presentation of psychotic episodes in adolescent inpatients]. / Retrospektywna analiza obrazu psychopatologicznego epizodów psychotycznych u hospitalizowanej mlodziezy.

AIM: Analysis of a clinical presentation and course of psychotic episodes in adolescent inpatients. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of charts of all (n=104) inpatients diagnosed with one of the schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder and acute and transient psychotic disorders: F20, F21 and F23 according to ICD-10) and assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) over a 10-year period (1998-2008) in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department. A psychopathological profile of different disorders and correlation between symptoms and demographic and clinical data were analysed. RESULTS: Severity of symptoms correlated with length of hospitalisation. In schizophrenia higher PANSS total score and more severe some general symptoms then in schizotypal disorders were observed. Also in schizophrenia more negative symptoms then in acute and transient psychotic disorders were detected. In all three disorders, the psychopathological profile included negative symptoms. CONCLUSION: In schizophrenia psychopathological symptoms were more severe than in other disorders. Presence of negative symptoms may indicate that all schizophrenia spectrum disorders may have a neurodevelopmental component.

Cognition and communication dysfunctions in early-onset schizophrenia: effect of risperidone.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment and formal thought disorder, also referred to as communication disturbances, are considered the core symptoms of schizophrenia, strongly affecting social functioning and long-term outcome. Several studies in adult patients suggest improvement of both functions after the treatment with atypical antipsychotic drugs. Such medications are also used as first line treatment in early-onset schizophrenia, however their efficacy in cognitive and communication domains in this population have not been systematically assessed. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluation of risperidone efficacy at psychopathological symptoms, cognitive impairment and formal thought disorder in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Psychopathological symptoms, cognitive functioning and formal thought disorder were evaluated in 32 hospitalized adolescent patients with schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis at the beginning of risperidone treatment and after clinical improvement and compared to the results of matched healthy control group. RESULTS: Risperidone treatment was associated with reduction of symptom severity and moderate improvement of formal thought disorder and some aspects of executive functions. Working memory and verbal fluency were not improved. There were few correlations between psychopathological symptoms and results of cognitive tests, mainly between negative symptoms and executive functions. DISCUSSION: In early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders atypical antipsychotic treatment is associated with alleviation of symptoms and only selective and moderate cognitive and communication improvement.

Cognitive impairment and formal thought disorders in parents of early-onset schizophrenia patients.

BACKGROUND: Both cognitive impairment and formal thought disorder (communication disturbances) found in patients with schizophrenia are also commonly observed in their relatives. Recently, the role of such deficits as putative endophenotypes of schizophrenia has been proposed. However, in a majority of studies, the families of adult patients were assessed whereas the relatives of early-onset psychotic subjects were rarely studied. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of cognitive impairment and formal thought disorders in parents of adolescents with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) and in matched healthy controls. METHOD: Thirty-eight parents of 29 SSD adolescents and 38 healthy controls were assessed with a battery of neurocognitive tests and the Thought, Language and Communication Scale. RESULTS: Parents of schizophrenia patients showed an increased tendency for perseverative thinking when compared to matched healthy controls. No statistically significant differences in cognitive functioning were observed between the groups. CONCLUSION: These results may suggest the need for further exploration of communication disturbances as a potential endophenotypic marker of early-onset schizophrenia.