Neurocognitive performance in children aged 9–12 years who present putative antecedents of schizophrenia

Abstract

Background We previously developed a novel method of identifying children aged 9–12 years who may be at elevated risk of developing schizophrenia and the spectrum disorders because they present a triad of putative antecedents of schizophrenia (ASz). The present study aimed to determine whether ASz children also present neurocognitive deficits that are commonly observed in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Twenty-eight ASz children and 28 typically-developing (TD) children without the antecedents of schizophrenia completed a battery of neurocognitive tests assessing seven domains of function: General intelligence, scholastic achievement, verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, executive function (EF)–verbal fluency, and EF–inhibition. Results Relative to TD children, the ASz group showed poorer performance on all neurocognitive tests (mean Cohen's d effect size = 0.52). In linear regression analyses, group status (ASz vs. TD) significantly predicted scores on the general intelligence, verbal memory, working memory, and EF–inhibition domains ( p < 0.05). The severity of problems on each of the individual antecedents comprising the antecedent triad did not relate strongly to performance on the neurocognitive domains. Conclusions Children aged 9–12 years who present multiple antecedents of schizophrenia display poorer neurocognition than healthy peers on several domains showing pronounced deficits in schizophrenia, first-episode psychosis, and youth with prodromal symptoms. Longitudinal follow-up is necessary to determine the extent to which poorer neurocognitive performance is specific to those who develop schizophrenia.