Family Perception and 6-Month Symptomatic and Functioning Outcomes in Young Adolescents at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis in a General Population in China.

Xiaoyan Fang,Kenji Hashimoto,Lu Wang,Jiabei Yuan,Chenyu Zhan,Yuhong Yao,Fazhan Chen,Jingyu Shi,Xiaowen Yin,Haojie Wang,Xudong Zhao

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138361

Abstract

Background and AimsGiven the difficulty of treating schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis, researchers have shifted focus to early detection and intervention of individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. Previous studies have shown that elements in family functioning could predict symptom outcome in CHR individuals. However, associations between self reported family functioning and symptom or functioning outcome of CHR individuals was rarely reported. Our study aimed to investigate the characteristics and the role of family functioning in the development of CHR individuals among young adolescents.MethodsA sample of 32 CHR individuals was recruited from 2800 university students. The characteristics of family perception were evaluated by both Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Family cohesion and adaptability evaluation Scale II (FACES II). 6 month follow up data was available with 25 of the recruited CHR individuals. Baseline socio-demographic characteristics and family functioning were compared between CHR and control group. We also measured the associations between different dimensions of perceived family functioning and both severity of prodromal symptoms and global functioning at baseline and 6-month follow up.ResultsCHR individuals showed more maladaptive family functioning compared to control in nearly all of the dimensions of FAD and FACES II except for Affective Involvement. Better Problem Solving and Affective Responsiveness predicted less severe positive and negative symptoms respectively. Family cohesion and adaptability were not only correlated with the baseline severity of general symptoms, but also positively associated with the general and disorganized symptom outcome.ConclusionsThis study contributed preliminary evidence towards the associations between family perception and symptom outcome of CHR individuals. It also provided evidence for the importance of family interventions on CHR individuals.

Highlights

In spite of advances in the understanding of their causes and treatment, schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis continue to be seriously disabling disorders
The characteristics of family perception were evaluated by both Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Family cohesion and adaptability evaluation Scale II (FACES II). 6 month follow up data was available with 25 of the recruited clinical high risk (CHR) individuals
We used a structured interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS [10]) to determine whether they met the criteria of CHR only with those scored higher than 6 in PQ-16

Summary

Introduction

In spite of advances in the understanding of their causes and treatment, schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis continue to be seriously disabling disorders. The importance of early detection and prevention aiming at delaying or preventing individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis from developing into fully psychotic symptoms attracted a lot of attention. Established methods for detection of CHR individuals allowed for investigation of factors protecting them from conversion to psychosis. High levels of expressed emotion in a family can be a risk factor for the relapse of psychotic disorders [1, 3, 4]. Given the difficulty of treating schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis, researchers have shifted focus to early detection and intervention of individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. Previous studies have shown that elements in family functioning could predict symptom outcome in CHR individuals. Our study aimed to investigate the characteristics and the role of family functioning in the development of CHR individuals among young adolescents

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion