Early signs: Perceptual distortions in late-teens predict psychotic
symptoms in mid-life

Date:
July 27, 2021
Source:
Binghamton University
Summary:
Subtle differences in perception during late-teen years can
predict the development of hallucinations, delusions, and, in some
instances, psychosis later in life, according to new research.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Schizophrenia is often diagnosed well into adulthood, typically from
the late teens to early 40s. Are there early indicators that could help
predict which individuals will go on to develop this serious mental
illness?

========================================================================== Researchers in clinical psychology and psychiatry have long sought
to answer this question. New research by Distinguished Professor Mark
F. Lenzenweger at Binghamton University and Weill Cornell Medical College
could point the way.

In "Schizotypy 17 years on: Psychotic symptoms in midlife," recently
published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology,Lenzenweger explored
the development of psychotic symptoms in 191 individuals with no prior
history of psychosis; first assessed in their young adulthood (age 17-18), study participants were assessed a second time in their mid-30s.

Lenzenweger found that subtle differences in perception during their
late-teen years predicted the development of hallucinations, delusions,
and, in some instances, psychosis later in life. These early perceptual distortions included a heightened awareness of sound or color, uncertainty about the boundaries of one's body, feeling that the world around them
is tilting, and similar experiences.

"We discovered that people, who were free of psychotic illness at age 18,
would show hallucination and delusion symptoms in mid-life if they showed
many very subtle disturbances in their perception early on," he said.

Anxiety and depression played no role in the development of psychotic
symptoms in mid-life, he added.

The precise causes of illnesses such as schizophrenia are largely unknown, although genetics and brain-based factors are known to play an essential
role.

Approximately 3.5 million people have the illness in the United States,
with an estimated annual healthcare cost of more than $155 billion.

"These new findings point to a specific focus for future research to
drill more deeply into the biological factors driving psychotic illness
and real-world experiences in the form of perceptual disturbances,"
Lenzenweger said.

"Understanding the nature of such perceptual aberrations
might provide more clues as to what is going on in the
development of schizophrenia and other similar conditions." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Binghamton_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Mark F. Lenzenweger. Schizotypy 17 years on: Psychotic symptoms in
midlife.. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2021; 130 (4): 399 DOI:
10.1037/abn0000680 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210727163236.htm

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