Psychotic symptoms in children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Neuropsychological and behavioral implications

Debbané, Martin; Glaser, Bronwyn; David, Melissa K.; Feinstein, Carl; Eliez, Stephan

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2006.01.019

« Previous Next »Schizophrenia Research
Volume 84, Issue 2 , Pages 187-193, June 2006

Psychotic symptoms in children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Neuropsychological and behavioral implications

Martin Debbané
- Service Médico-Pédagogique, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 16-18 Boulevard St-Georges, Case Postale 50, 1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +41 22 327 43 03; fax: +41 22 327 43 20.
Bronwyn Glaser
- Service Médico-Pédagogique, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 16-18 Boulevard St-Georges, Case Postale 50, 1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland
Melissa K. David
- Service Médico-Pédagogique, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 16-18 Boulevard St-Georges, Case Postale 50, 1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland
Carl Feinstein
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical School, Switzerland
Stephan Eliez
- Service Médico-Pédagogique, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, 16-18 Boulevard St-Georges, Case Postale 50, 1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Switzerland

Received 28 July 2005; received in revised form 27 January 2006; accepted 27 January 2006.

Abstract

Individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) are at increased risk for developing schizophrenia: half of affected adolescents report transient psychotic experiences and up to 30% of adults are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Prospective studies have shown that psychotic symptoms in childhood are predictive of later schizophreniform disorders. The current study aimed to define the prevalence and correlates of psychotic symptoms (PS) in young children and adolescents with 22q11DS. Forty-three children and adolescents with 22q11DS (mean age=10.62±11.19) participated in this study. The occurrence of PS and their neuropsychological and behavioral correlates were investigated through semi-structured interviews and standardized measures. Psychotic symptoms were reported in 28% of the total sample and 17% of pre-adolescent children, and associated with decreased verbal IQ scores [F(1)=4.41, p=0.042]. Compared to young patients without PS, young patients with PS were perceived by their parents as more anxious-depressed [F(1)=4.76, p=0.035] and withdrawn [F(1)=7.63, p=0.009], with reduced adaptive socialization skills [F(1)=6.88, p=0.012]. Results suggest that psychotic manifestations are present earlier than typically reported in youngsters with 22q11DS and are accompanied by reduced verbal IQ performance and decreased adaptative social skills. The symptomatic, neuropsychological and behavioral characteristics observed in the current study may constitute central markers of increased risk for psychosis in 22q11DS.