AUTHOR=Adrien Vladimir , Liewig Justine , Diot Thomas , Ferreri Florian , Mouchabac Stephane , Dubertret Caroline , Bourgin Julie 

TITLE=Association between family functioning and psychotic transition in ultra-high risk adolescents and young adults

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1177311

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1177311

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: Psychotic transition (PT) is a crucial stage in schizophrenia. The Comprehensive Assessment of at-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) scale can be used to identify individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis and to evaluate their risk of PT. Many environmental and genetic factors have been identified as contributing to the development and decompensation of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine if the quality of family functioning is associated with PT risk in UHR individuals aged 11-25 years after one year of follow-up.
Methods: From January to November 2017, 45 patients aged 12 to 25 consulting for psychiatric reasons were included. 26 were classified as UHR of PT at the CAARMS. Family functioning was assessed by the Family Assessment Device – Global Functioning (FAD-GF). 37 of these patients (30% men, mean age 16 ± 2.5) were reassessed at 8-14 months of recruitment. Survival analysis was used to examine the impact of family functioning on PT risk.
Results: 40% of UHR patients were classified as psychotic at reassessment. Survival analysis showed that a better family functioning is a significant protective factor for PT in this population. 
Discussion: This result suggests that the global family functioning has an impact at 1 year on the risk of PT in the population of adolescents and young adults who consult the hospital for a psychiatric reason. A family intervention may be effective in reducing PT risk in this population and should be considered as a potential therapeutic option.