Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. med. A. Riecher-Rössler
The aim of the study is to establish a scientific basis for the early detection of individuals at risk for a schizophrenic psychosis. It is a prospective multi-level study. With the help of several instruments developed by us — based on risk factors known from the literature — individuals presumed to be at risk for psychosis are identified.
Over the first four years, 234 individuals were screened: 91 were already psychotic, 106 were identified as at-risk individuals, and 37 were determined to have no elevated risk of psychosis. 65 at-risk persons could be followed up in a longitudinal study. In this group we conducted psychopathological, neuropsychological, neurophysiological and neuroradiological examinations, applying the multi-level approach mentioned above. Patients with a first episode of psychosis, patients with depression and healthy controls were examined as reference groups. → more information on the first project phase
First results show that at-risk individuals already suffer from negative symptoms to a similar degree as first-episode psychosis patients. Neuropsychological and neurophysiological deficits were also found, which resemble those of first-episode patients, though less pronounced in some areas. Of the followed-up at-risk individuals, 34 % developed a full psychotic disorder over the subsequent years without specific treatment. The rate was very high in the first year of observation and decreased thereafter.
The long-term study will be continued with the aim of further improving the early detection of psychosis by integrating these different investigation levels. At the same time, we are beginning targeted — but ideally side-effect-free — early interventions for high-risk individuals who wish to receive them, in order to prevent the development of a full psychosis.