Clinical features and therapeutic effects of early onset schizophrenia spectrum disorder

Abstract

Objective To explore the features of early onset schizophrenia spectrum disorder (EOS), and also the difference between childhood onset schizophrenia spectrum disorder (COS) and adolescent onset schizophrenia spectrum disorder (AOS). Methods A retrospective analysis on demographic feature, pre-morbid situation, clinical characteristics and curative effect, was conducted based on the history review of EOS patients in children and adolescent department from 2006 to 2012, the differences between COS subgroup (≤13 ys, n=113)and AOS subgroup (>13 ys, n=192), were compared by t-test and Chi-square. Correlation analysis and logistic regression were used to explore the risk factor for curative effect of EOS. Result 30.8% (94/305)of EOS children had a history of psychosis in their family members; the most common symptoms in EOS included hallucination, delusion, and formal thought disorder in order; the rate of significantly improved in first episode psychosis in in-patient clinic was 71.3% (216/303). Abnormal development history was more common in COS (21.2%,24/113)than it in AOS (11.5%, 22/192; χ2=5.31, P= 0.030), while the symptom of delusion (61.9%(70/113)vs. (142/192); χ2=4.84, P=0.029)and the rate of significantly improved (64.3%(72/112)vs. 75.4%(144/191), χ2=6.63, P=0.034) were significantly higher in AOS than it in COS. When significantly improved was designated as 1 and without significant improvement was designated as 0, social withdrawal and comorbidity with mental retardation or Asperger syndrome, fit the logistic regression equation very well (χ2=31.63, P<0.01), were risk factors for curative effect of EOS. Conclusion The curative effect of COS is probably not as good as AOS. Much more abnormal development history is in COS, which may suggest a more significant biological basis in COS. Social withdrawal and comorbidity with neurodevelopmental disorder may be the risk factors in prognosis of EOS. Key words: Schizophrenia; Early onset; Risk factor; Prognosis