Fine Motor Skill Deficits in Young People with Previously Reported Psychotic Experiences: A Longitudinal Study.
Poster B34,
Eleanor Carey1, Diane Gillan2, Colm Healy1, Niamh Dooley1, Ian Kelleher1, Mary Cannon1,2; 1Dept of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin., 2Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
Objective: To evaluate neuropsychological and motor performance over time in adolescents with psychotic experiences. Methods: The current research focuses on a longitudinal community-based sample of adolescents (n=56) conducted over a 10 year follow-up period, assessed over 3 time-points. Psychotic experiences were assessed at two time-points (baseline mean age 12, T2 mean age 16) using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective and Depressive Symptoms (K-SADS). Neuropsychological assessments were also administered at T2, and again at T3 (mean age 20). Neuropsychological assessments measured fine motor skill, speed of processing, executive function and working memory, including subtests of the MATRICS battery. Results: Participants were considered as those who had reported a psychotic experience at baseline or T2 (n=18) and those who had not (healthy controls) (n= 38). At T2, no group differences were found on the administered neuropsychological tasks. At T3, a significant group difference was found in the performance on the fine motor skill task (F=7.07, p=.01) for both dominant (F=4.84, p=.03) and non-dominant hands (F=6.25, p=.02), and this remained when controlling for scores of affective psychopathology as measured by the K-SADS (F=4.35, p=.04). No other group differences were found on the remaining neuropsychological tasks. Conclusion: Fine motor skill deficits have been revealed over time in young adults who reported psychotic experiences up to 10 years previously, advancing the knowledge in the trajectory of sub-clinical symptoms of psychosis. This study also emphasises the importance measuring motor skill, in order to delineate the core cognitive deficits found in individuals with psychotic experiences.
Topic Area: Neurodevelopmental