COMPARISON OF PATIENTS WITH EARLY-ONSET, TYPICAL-ONSET, AND LATE-ONSET AFFECTIVE PSYCHOSIS

Objective: The authors compared the clinical characteristics and famil y history of patients with early-onset (before age 18), typical-onset (dt 20-25 years), and late-onset (after age 35) affective psychosis at the time of first hospitalization. Method: Diagnostic, symptom and fa mily history information was obtained from 88 consecutively hospitaliz ed patients. Results: Major depression was more common in the fate-ons et group, and a family history of affective and substance abuse disord ers was more common among the early-onset patients. Affective symptoms differed significantly among groups; specifically early-onset patient s had more energy, minimal sleep disruption, and greater suicidality, while typical-onset patients had move severe abnormal thought content. Conclusions: Among patients with affective psychosis, there may be he terogeneity of symptoms and family history associated with age at firs t hospitalization.