CHILDHOOD BEHAVIORAL PRECURSORS OF ADULT NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

The present study sought to determine whether childhood behavior was p redictive of adult neuropsychological performance in a group of male s chizophrenic patients. Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ratings wer e obtained from retrospective maternal reports for four age periods: b irth-4 years, 4-8 years, 8-12 years, and 12-16 years. A battery of neu ropsychological measures was administered to the patients as adults. T he results indicated that childhood withdrawn behavior predicted poore r performance on a number of adult neuropsychological measures. Childh ood attention and social problems were linked with poorer motor perfor mance in adulthood. Childhood anxiety/depression predicted better adul t neuropsychological performance. Results are discussed in terms of th e developmental continuity of behavioral syndromes and symptoms.