Cognitive and motor alterations in children attending a psychiatric clinic in relation to schizophrenia spectrum family antecedents and thought problems

Abstract

AIM Neurodevelopmental and clinical problems in childhood often precede adult Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. We investigated if children attending a psychiatric clinic presented more cognitive and motor alterations if there was a family history of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (FHR-SZ) diagnosis. We also searched if there was a relationship between clinical scores in CBCL Thought Problems and increased problems in motor and cognitive performance. METHODS Seventy-five children (aged 7 to 16; mean 12 y/o; 53% males) were recruited (45 reported FHR-SZ -seven of them first degree-). They completed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V), Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2), social cognition from the Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment (NEPSY-II) and Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-3). Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-2). RESULTS A neurodevelopmental disorder was the primary diagnosis in 65% (mainly ADHD). Motor performance and emotion recognition were below expected by age, and IQ was average. No relevant differences in relation to family history were found. Patients with high scores in the CBCL Thought Problems subscale (n=38) were older, more often presented a diagnosis of combined ADHD, performed worse in Emotion Recognition, had Executive Function problems and clinical symptoms in subscales Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawal/Depressed and Attention problems. CONCLUSIONS In children attending a psychiatric clinic, CBCL Thought Problems subscale associates with more internalizing clinical problems, executive function, and social cognition difficulties. Larger samples and first-degree FHR-SZ probands are needed to delineate risk profiles.