HILLSIDE STUDY OF RISK AND EARLY DETECTION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Background The Hillside Study of Risk and Early Detection in Schizophr enia is a prospective study of young probands (ages 14-28) and their a t-risk siblings (ages 14-24). A major goal is the identification of ea rly predictors of illness that will facilitate intervention. The proje ct design and pilot study are discussed. Method Fifteen adolescents we re compared to 14 typical age-of-onset adults, all undergoing their fi rst hospitalisation for schizophrenia. Results There were no differenc es between adolescents and adults on any of the measures administered (i.e. attention, eye tracking, neurocognitive or clinical). In additio n, for the sample overall, no association was found between neurocogni tive functions and clinical state, either at admission or after treatm ent. Conclusions Individuals with adolescent onset of schizophrenia ar e considered to be representative of schizophrenia in general.furtherm ore, neurocognitive deficits and clinical symptoms are concluded to be two independent classess of risk indicators.