Back to Search
Start Over
S20-05 The critical period
- Source :
-
European Psychiatry . Jan2009 Supplement 1, Vol. 24, pS110-S110. 1p. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Aim: Evidence from long-term follow-up studies of schizophrenia and from the ‘new epidemiology’ of psychoses has forced us to rewrite the textbooks and challenge accepted wisdom. In this paper I aim to review the concept of my ‘Critical Period’ in the long-term trajectory of schizophrenia. Method: I will review long-term follow-up studies of first episode psychosis. Results: Studies suggest that: [a.] the course of the psychoses is very variable; [b.] much of this variability is laid down during the ‘prodromal’ and first 3 - 5 years following the first episode; [c.] the ‘disability’ plateaus quickly, much of it occuring before the positive symptoms develop (the ‘symptom-disability gap’) but [d.] the psychosocial and ecological risk factors that have now been uncovered, suggest a more protean, malleable process in the development of psychosis, as witnessed, for example by the considerable number of ‘at risk’ individuals with low-level, but disabling psychotic symptoms, who escape psychosis (the misnomer of the ‘false positive’). Conclusion: This picture presents a fresh take on my concept of the ‘critical period’ with implications for public health and prevention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Subjects :
- *PUBLIC health
*SCHIZOPHRENIA
*PATHOLOGICAL psychology
*PSYCHOSES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09249338
- Volume :
- 24
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- European Psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36989420
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(09)70343-8