Correlates of schizophrenia spectrum disorders in children and adolescents cared for in community settings

Abstract

Background This study examined the prevalence and correlates of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) among a national sample of 9006 children. Methods Clinician-assigned diagnoses were used to divide the sample into two groups: children with SSD and children with other Axis I disorders. Results Three percent of the sample had a SSD diagnosis. African American (OR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.65) and Hispanic race/ethnicity (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.94), a greater number of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses (three diagnoses, OR=2.22, 95% CI: 1.49, 3.31), a history of attempting suicide (OR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.02), and past residential treatment (OR=1.59; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.28) were all associated with increased odds of SSD diagnosis. Conclusions Although schizophrenia spectrum disorders in youth are rare, children with these disorders present with a distinct risk profile that may inform service planning and delivery and assist in identifying individuals early in the course of their illness.

Approach and avoidant emotion regulation prevent depressive symptoms in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Data can be missing completely at random (MCAR), missing ad random (MAR), or missing non‐at random (MNAR). If data are MAR, MI prevents bias in the parameter estimates which would be a result of the missing data (Graham and Hofer, 2000; Nugent et al, 2012). Little's test pointed out that the missing pattern in our dataset was either MAR or MNAR (Little and Rubin, 2002).…”

Practitioner Review: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders and the at‐risk mental state for psychosis in children and adolescents – evidence‐based management approaches

“…However, comorbid problems such as behavioural disturbance (Ross, Heinlein, & Tregellas, ) and substance use (Pencer & Addington, ) may cloud the clinical picture in juvenile‐onset schizophrenia, delaying recognition. Adolescents with schizophrenia have higher rates of psychosocial adversity, such as poor parental care and abuse, compared with other young people served by CAMHS (Nugent, Daniel, & Azur, ). Thus, adverse life events may be considered by practitioners as explaining behavioural change or perceptual disturbance, and an evolving psychosis is missed.…”

The Life Course Paradigm as a Lens for Holistic Nursing Research in Older Adults Diagnosed With Schizophrenia

“…Walker’s (2015) developmental theory, for example, suggests that a feedback loop in communication is an essential process for one to gain information and to individually progress and better oneself. Individuals who live with schizophrenia may desire to establish close relationships, but this may be difficult for them because of their disoriented psychotic behaviors and depression, which can limit their ability to communicate clearly (APA, 2013; Cohen et al, 2015; DeVylder, Lehmann, & Chen, 2015; Kasckow et al, 2011; Nugent, Daniels, & Azur, 2012; Walsh, 2018). Close relations and social support systems for many individuals in our society include family members (Buchanan & McConnell, 2017).…”

“…This can affect the person’s ability to enter into societal roles and the timing of when the person enters those roles. Depression and associated anxieties have been reported in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia from very young ages to older adulthood (Cohen et al, 2010; Nugent et al, 2012; Strugstad, Lau, & Øie, 2018). Daily stressors that lead to psychological and physical ill health can be related to stressors that may affect the ability of persons with schizophrenia to enter societal roles (O’Rand, 2009).…”