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Abstract
Abnormal neurodevelopment and poor premorbid function have been described in schizophrenia.
It is unclear whether abnormalities in these domains are increased in patients with
early onset schizophrenia (EOS; onset before the 18th birthday) and whether they act
to precipitate the earlier onset of the disorder. To address these questions, we collected
information based on maternal interviews about the premorbid function of 40 adolescents
with recent onset schizophrenia and an equal number of healthy controls using the
Developmental Scale Score, the Premorbid Schizoid and Schizotypal Trait Scale (PSST)
and Premorbid Adjustment Scale (PAS). Data on the PSST and PAS were also available
in 54 patients with adult onset schizophrenia (AOS; onset after the 20th birthday).
Compared to healthy controls, EOS patients had (a). delayed speech milestones, difficulties
in reading and spelling and greater overall developmental deviance; (b). poor premorbid
adjustment in childhood, which became even more deviant in adolescence particularly
in boys and (c). more schizophrenia spectrum traits. Both premorbid adjustment and
personality traits were more abnormal in patients with increased developmental deviance
suggesting the possibility that they represent different manifestations of ongoing
abnormalities in developmental processes. EOS patients had more impaired premorbid
adjustment in adolescence and schizophrenia spectrum traits compared to AOS cases.
Age of onset was related to developmental deviance, premorbid schizophrenia spectrum
traits and childhood adjustment in EOS patients only.