Clinical features of schizotypal disorder in childhood and adolescence

Abstract

To identify psychopathological features, patterns of formation and course of schizotypal disorder (STD) in childhood and adolescence, to develop criteria for differential diagnosis. A total of 151 patients, aged 7 to 16 years (mean age 12.3 years), with a diagnosis of schizotypal disorder were included in the study. Of these, 48 (31.8%) were women and 103 (68.2%) were men. Psychopathological, pathopsychological, psychometric and statistical methods were used. The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) was used as a formalized tool for assessing the clinical symptoms of STD. Based on the prevailing symptoms, the clinical sample of patients was divided into 3 groups. The 1st group consisted of 56 (32.5%) patients with a predominance of neurosis-like disorders, the 2nd group - 50 (37.7%) patients with a predominance of behavioral disorders, the 3rd group included 45 (29.8%) patients with the dominance of stable personality anomalies. Significant differences between the groups were found in the frequency and severity of psychopathological symptoms, the structure of deficient (negative disorders), the age of onset of disorders, the characteristics of social activity and adaptation. According to the SPQ scale, positive disorders prevailed in group 1 compared to group 3: ideas of attitude (3.3 and 2.7 points respectively), unusual sensations and perceptions (3, 1 and 1.7 points respectively). STD is a spectrum of disorders, on one end of which there are variants with a predominance of positive disorders, on the other negative ones. The predominance of certain psychopathological symptoms is due to the age of onset of psychopathological disorders, age at the time of the current exacerbation, and the duration of persistence of the disease. The predominance of neurosis-like, psychopathic-like disorders and persistent personality anomalies makes it possible to classify STD as one of the identified types, which allows us to substantiate differentiated therapy and prognosis.