Self-disorders, clinical symptomatology, functioning and trauma in clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis

Poster B106, Tuesday, October%209, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom

Tor Gunnar Værnes1, Jan Ivar Røssberg1,2, Paul Møller3; 1Oslo University Hospital, 2University of Oslo, 3Vestre Viken Hospital Trust

We investigated the prevalence of phenotypic variants of self-disorder (SD), i.e. anomalous self-experiences (ASEs), and the associations between ASEs and positive, negative and disorganization symptoms, global functioning, diagnoses and childhood trauma, in a clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis sample. Thirty-eight subjects were included, 31 CHR (according to ultra-high risk and/or cognitive disturbances (COGDIS) criteria), and seven with non-progressive attenuated psychotic symptoms. ASEs were assessed with the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE). Positive, negative and disorganization symptoms were assessed with the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS), functioning with the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale - Split version (S-GAF), trauma with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and diagnoses with the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Axis I diagnoses (SCID-I), and according to DSM-IV-TR criteria for disorders not included in SCID-I. The total level of ASEs was in line with the level reported in other CHR-samples, and did not differ significantly between the ordinary CHR-group and the non-progressive symptoms group. ASEs were significantly correlated with positive, negative and disorganization symptoms, and with the CTQ-subscale emotional neglect, but not with global functioning. Only negative symptoms explained a significant amount of the variance in the regression models. Compared to mood and anxiety disorders, the level of ASEs was significantly higher in schizotypal personality disorder and in dissociative disorders. Our results demonstrate a particularly strong link between ASEs and negative symptoms. The link with emotional neglect supports previous reports that environmental stressors may contribute to the development of ASEs.

Topic Area: Ultra High Risk / Prodromal Research

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