Neuropsychological profile according to the clinical stage of young persons presenting for mental health care

Daniel F Hermens; S L Naismith; Jim Lagopoulos; R S Lee; A J Guastella; E M Scott; I B Hickie

doi:10.1186/2050-7283-1-8

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Neuropsychological profile according to the clinical stage of young persons presenting for mental health care

Daniel F Hermens, S L Naismith, Jim Lagopoulos, R S Lee, A J Guastella, E M Scott and I B Hickie

BMC Psychology, Vol.134, pp.158-164

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2050-7283-1-8

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Abstract

Neurosciences

Psychology

schizophrenia

theory of mind

mentalizing

fMRI

Background: Clinical staging of mental disorders proposes that individuals can be assessed at various sub-syndromal and later developed phases of illness. As an adjunctive rating, it may complement traditional diagnostic silo-based approaches. In this study, we sought to determine the relationships between clinical stage and neuropsychological profile in young persons presenting to youth-focused mental health services. Methods:Neuropsychological testing of 194 help-seeking young people (mean age 22.6 years, 52% female) and 50 healthy controls. Clinical staging rated 94 persons as having an 'attenuated syndrome' (stage 1b) and 100 with a discrete or persistent disorder (stage 2/3). Results: The discrete disorder group (stage 2/3) showed the most impaired neuropsychological profile, with the earlier stage (1b) group showing an intermediate profile, compared to controls. Greatest impairments were seen in verbal memory and executive functioning. To address potential confounds created by 'diagnosis', profiles for those with a mood syndrome or disorder but not psychosis were also examined and the neuropsychological impairments for the stage 2/3 group remained. Conclusions: The degree of neuropsychological impairment in young persons with mental disorders appears to discriminate those with attenuated syndromes from those with a discrete disorder, independent of diagnostic status and current symptoms. Our findings suggest that neuropsychological assessment is a critical aspect of clinical evaluation of young patients at the early stages of a major psychiatric illness.

Details

Title: Neuropsychological profile according to the clinical stage of young persons presenting for mental health care
Authors: Daniel F Hermens (Author) - University of Sydney
S L Naismith (Author) - University of Sydney
Jim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of Sydney
R S Lee (Author) - University of Sydney
A J Guastella (Author) - University of Sydney
E M Scott (Author) - University of Sydney
I B Hickie (Author) - University of Sydney
Publication details: BMC Psychology, Vol.134, pp.158-164
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1186/2050-7283-1-8
ISSN: 2050-7283
Copyright note: Copyright © 2013 Hermens et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450196902621
Output Type: Journal article

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