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Psychotic Illness Can Now Be Predicted

  
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Cannon TD, Cadenhead K, Cornblatt B, et al. Prediction of psychosis in youth at high clinical risk: A multisite longitudinal study in North America. Arch Gen Psych. 2008;65(1):28-37.

 

Recent research shows that 68% to 80% of youth psychosis can be predicted if the patients possess certain combinations of risk factors. This research stems from the largest study of its kind.

 

The study was conducted among patients with a median age of 16 years, and was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.

 

The combinations of factors that predicted psychosis in this population were:

 

* deteriorating social functioning

 

* family history of psychosis mixed with recent decline in ability to function

 

* increase in abnormal thoughts

 

* increase in suspicion or paranoia

 

* past or current drug use.

 

 

Thirty-five percent of study participants who had at least one risk factor developed a psychotic illness. However, those who had additional risk factors developed psychoses at the rate of 68% to 80% percent.