A study reveals that a high percentage of children and adolescents with early-onset psychosis suffer from clinical depression
A study conducted by a research team from the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute and the Sant Joan de Déu Health Park reveals that a high percentage of children and adolescents with early-onset psychosis suffer from clinical depression . The article has been published in the scientific journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry .
Early-onset psychosis is defined as the onset of psychotic symptoms before the age of 18. Some studies argue that the early age of onset of the first psychotic episode is a clinical characteristic that indicates the course of the illness and is associated with greater psychopathological disturbances. Clinical depression, on the other hand, is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with daily life.
The importance of early intervention in psychosis
Many studies demonstrate the importance of the relationship between early-onset psychosis and clinical depression , and even suggest that children may experience high levels of depressive symptoms. However, analyzing this relationship is truly complex. It has been observed that some of the symptoms of these two disorders are similar, especially the so-called negative symptoms such as anergia or lack of speech. Therefore, this overlap of symptoms makes it difficult to differentiate depressive symptoms in young people experiencing psychotic episodes.
Despite its importance, few studies have analyzed in detail the relationship between early-onset psychosis and clinical depression. Furthermore, the few existing studies focus on adult populations. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence and types of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents who have experienced their first psychotic episode, as well as to analyze the relationship between depressive and psychotic symptoms .
The relationship between early-onset psychosis and depression
The research team, composed of professionals in psychiatry, clinical psychology, and neuropsychology, evaluated more than 60 patients between the ages of 7 and 17 from the Sant Joan de Déu network who had experienced their first episode of early-onset psychosis. To do this, they conducted a complex assessment that included clinical aspects to compare psychotic symptoms in two groups: the group with depression and the group without depression. The results indicated that a high percentage of patients who had experienced their first early-onset episode also suffered from depression.
"We have observed that the most frequent symptoms of depression are associated with the level of education and that the presence of depression is associated with negative, affective, and excitatory symptoms. In contrast, low self-esteem, school problems, negative affect, and biological dysregulation are associated with psychotic symptoms," comments Dr. Susana Ochoa , head of the senior group in Etiopathogenesis and Treatment of Severe Mental Disorders (MERITT) .
Thanks to the results of this study, the need for appropriate tools to measure and determine the clinical symptoms of depression more specifically in children and adolescents experiencing a first psychotic episode has been demonstrated . The work carried out by Sant Joan de Déu has served as a precedent for a better understanding of the relationship between depression and early-onset psychosis, and also for helping to develop more specific treatments in the future.
This is an original article from the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute (IRSJD)
Featuring
