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Disturbances of basic self and prodromal symptoms among non-psychotic help-seeking adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2012

D. Koren*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
N. Reznik
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
M. Adres
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
R. Scheyer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
A. Apter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, The Schneider Children Medical Center, Petach Tiqua, Israel
T. Steinberg
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, The Schneider Children Medical Center, Petach Tiqua, Israel
J. Parnas
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Center Hvidovre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Center for Subjectivity, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
*
*Address for correspondence: D. Koren, Ph.D., Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, 31905, Israel. (Email: [email protected])

Abstract

Background

The goal of this study was to explore the notion that anomalies of self-experience (ASE) are a core, ‘not-yet-psychotic’ clinical phenotype of emerging schizophrenia and its spectrum.

Method

To accomplish this goal, we examined the relationship between ASE and commonly accepted risk markers in a sample of 87 help-seeking, non-psychotic adolescents (aged 14–18 years). ASE were assessed with the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE), subclinical psychotic symptoms were assessed with the Prodromal Questionnaire and the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes, deterioration in psychosocial functioning was assessed with the Social and Role Functioning Scales, and level of distress with the Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire.

Results

About 82 participants completed the entire EASE interview. The number of participants who reported ASE at a clinically meaningful level (n = 18, 22%) was smaller than that who met diagnostic criteria for a prodromal syndrome (n = 28, 34%). The degree of overlap between the two conditions was moderate but statistically significant (χ2(1) = 7.01, p = 0.008). An exploratory factor analysis revealed that ASE load on a different factor than prodromal symptoms and deterioration in functioning, but that there is a moderate correlation between the three factors.

Conclusions

These results suggest that ASE are prevalent among non-psychotic help-seeking adolescents, yet at a considerably lower rate than prodromal symptoms. In addition, they suggest that ASE and prodromal symptoms constitute distinct but moderately related dimensions of potential risk. Taken together, they provide preliminary support for the clinical usefulness of supplementing and refining the methods of early detection of risk with assessment of ASE.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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