Testing the clinical application of the child psychosis-risk screening system (CPSS)

Abstract

Introduction Children in a prodromal state manifesting as truancy or social isolation (hikikomori) often complain of problems that are physical in nature and are subject to significant changes. We developed the Child Psychosis-Risk Screening System (CPSS) that incorporates childhood psycho-behavioral characteristics revealed through a retrospective survey of schizophrenia patients into its algorithm. Objectives Our research aimed to test the risk identification of pediatric and psychiatric clinic outpatients using the CPSS. Methods We conducted an epidemiological study involving 204 outpatients between the ages of 6 and 14 years who had been examined at a pediatric or psychiatric clinic using the CBCL and clinical data from medical charts. Logistic regression analysis and T-tests were performed using each clinical data variable to clarify the risk of the CPSS calculated from the CBCL data and contributing factors. Results The results of the logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the diagnostic category (physical illness or DSM-5 diagnosis) and chief complaint did not contribute to differentiate between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Meanwhile, the environmental factors of “abuse” and “social isolation” did contribute to the discrimination of the two groups. Conclusions The fact that the diagnostic category during childhood does not contribute to the discrimination of the high- risk group warrants attention. It is possible that the high-risk group only had a latent endophenotype that had not yet manifested during this period. The factors suggested to have an association with the high-risk group may be reflecting activators and the dynamic state of the critical period for psychosis. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• schizophrénia
• prodromal state
• Screening
• CBCL