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Early diagnosis of schizophrenia — the first step towards secondary prevention
Author(s) -
Davidson M.,
Weisser M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.0065-1591.2000.007s021[dash]2.x
Subject(s) - schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , disease , psychiatry , retrospective cohort study , psychosis , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , pediatrics , pathology
Objective: To review current knowledge of risk factors associated with schizophrenia and the development of diagnostic markers aimed at the delay or attenuation of the first psychotic episode. Method: Studies relating to the development of disease and the risk factors that could inform predictive markers are reviewed, including high‐risk studies, birth‐cohort studies, and retrospective and follow‐back studies. Results: Future schizophrenic patients present with delayed developmental milestones, speech and behavioural difficulties, and lower IQ scores than non‐cases. Conclusion: Results are consistent with the notion that schizophrenia is a developmental disease and that such antecedents are present; further research is required to improve the specificity of diagnostic markers and predictive power before these can be used to prevent or delay psychotic episodes of schizophrenia.