Abstract
BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is associated with severe social deficits. Social dysfunction is common in young persons with an ultra high risk (UHR) of developing a psychotic disorder. AIM: To present an overview of the literature on social deficits in the UHR phase, and to find out what role these deficits play in the prediction of a first psychotic episode. METHOD: We searched the literature using PsycINFO (covering the period from 1995 to January 2013) in order to locate articles relating to the role of social dysfunction in the UHR phase. RESULTS: Young persons who meet one or more UHR criteria face more social constraints than the general population. Effect-sizes indicate differences ranging from medium to substantial (range Cohen's d = .63-4.18). Impairments in both social and role functioning contribute to the prediction of a first psychotic episode in uhr young persons. CONCLUSION: Research conducted on UHR adolescents shows, without exception, that functional limitations are already manifest in the phase preceding a clinical psychotic disorder. The experiencing of UHR symptoms is itself associated with (severe) social deficits that require treatment, regardless of whether the help-seeking UHR individual eventually develops a psychosis.
Translated title of the contribution | Social dysfunction of young persons with an ultra high risk of developing first-episode psychosis |
---|---|
Original language | Dutch |
Pages (from-to) | 40-49 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 1 |
State | Published - 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Prediction
- Psychosis
- Social functioning
- Transition
- UHR