Skip to main page content

• HOME
• Current
• Archive
• Feedback
• Subscribe
• Help

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Johnstone, E. C. Articles by Lawrie, S. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Johnstone, E. C. Articles by Lawrie, S. M.

Predicting schizophrenia: findings from the Edinburgh High-Risk Study

Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Correspondence: Professor Eve C. Johnstone, Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Kennedy Tower, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK. E-mail: Norma.Brearley{at}ed.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None.

Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background The hypothesis that schizophrenia is neurodevelopmental was investigated in a prospective study of young people with a postulated 10–15% risk for the development of schizophrenia.

Aims To determine premorbid variables distinguishing high-risk people who will go on to develop schizophrenia from those who will not.

Method A high-risk sample of 163 young adults with two relatives with schizophrenia was recruited. They and 36 controls were serially examined. Baseline measures were compared between those who did develop schizophrenia, a well control group, a well high-risk group and high-risk participants with partial or isolated psychotic symptoms.

Results Of those at high risk, 20 developed schizophrenia within 2 years. More experienced isolated or partial psychotic symptoms. Those who developed schizophrenia differed from those who did not on social anxiety, withdrawal and other schizotypal features. The whole high-risk sample differed from the control group on developmental and neuropsychological variables.

Conclusions The genetic component of schizophrenia affects many more individuals than will develop the illness, and partial impairment can be found in them. Highly significant predictors of the development of schizophrenia are detectable years before onset.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Takahashi, S. J. Wood, A. R. Yung, B. Soulsby, P. D. McGorry, M. Suzuki, Y. Kawasaki, L. J. Phillips, D. Velakoulis, and C. Pantelis Progressive Gray Matter Reduction of the Superior Temporal Gyrus During Transition to Psychosis Arch Gen Psychiatry, April 1, 2009; 66(4): 366 - 376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Harrison-Read IQ tests as aids to diagnosis and management in early schizophrenia Advan. Psychiatr. Treat., May 1, 2008; 14(3): 235 - 240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Lawrie, A. M. McIntosh, J. Hall, D. G.C. Owens, and E. C. Johnstone Brain Structure and Function Changes During the Development of Schizophrenia: The Evidence From Studies of Subjects at Increased Genetic Risk Schizophr Bull, March 1, 2008; 34(2): 330 - 340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. YUNG and P. D. McGORRY Prediction of psychosis: setting the stage The British Journal of Psychiatry, December 1, 2007; 191(51): s1 - s8. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. C. Johnstone, D. G. C. Owens, P. Hoare, S. Gaur, M. D. Spencer, J. Harris, A. W Stanfield, V. Moffat, N. Brearley, P. Miller, et al. Schizotypal cognitions as a predictor of psychopathology in adolescents with mild intellectual impairment The British Journal of Psychiatry, December 1, 2007; 191(6): 484 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. J. Davies Developmental aspects of schizophrenia and related disorders: possible implications for treatment strategies Advan. Psychiatr. Treat., September 1, 2007; 13(5): 384 - 391. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Waddington Neuroimaging and other neurobiological indices in schizophrenia: relationship to measurement of functional outcome The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2007; 191(50): s52 - s57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Gur, M. S. Keshavan, and S. M. Lawrie Deconstructing Psychosis With Human Brain Imaging Schizophr Bull, July 1, 2007; 33(4): 921 - 931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Lawrie Distinguishing Vulnerability, Prediction, and Progression in the Preschizophrenic Brain Arch Gen Psychiatry, February 1, 2007; 64(2): 250 - 251. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. GLATT, W. S. STONE, S. V. FARAONE, L. J. SEIDMAN, and M. T. TSUANG Psychopathology, personality traits and social development of young first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2006; 189(4): 337 - 345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Sorensen, E. L. Mortensen, J. Parnas, and S. A. Mednick Premorbid Neurocognitive Functioning in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder Schizophr Bull, July 1, 2006; 32(3): 578 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Brewer, S. J. Wood, L. J. Phillips, S. M. Francey, C. Pantelis, A. R. Yung, B. Cornblatt, and P. D. McGorry Generalized and Specific Cognitive Performance in Clinical High-Risk Cohorts: A Review Highlighting Potential Vulnerability Markers for Psychosis Schizophr Bull, July 1, 2006; 32(3): 538 - 555. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.G. C. Owens, P. Miller, S. M. Lawrie, and E. C. Johnstone Pathogenesis of schizophrenia: a psychopathological perspective The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2005; 186(5): 386 - 393. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]