Antecedents of an Acute Schizophrenic Break

Abstract

During an investigation into the antecedents of schizophrenia that studied 12 offspring of chronic schizophrenic mothers, and their 12 controls, from birth, one subject was hospitalized at 19 and diagnosed schizophrenic. The early onset of social-affective and cognitive dysfunction clearly indicates that such children (and their families) need much earlier intervention than is usually provided. The prospective data also suggest that DSMIII schizotypal symptoms may identify some pre-schizophrenics in early adolescence and childhood. A standardized measure of thought disorder (the TDI), based on the WISC and Rorschach, could provide an additional quantitative confirmation.