Twelve-month follow-up of family communication and psychopathology in children and adolescents with a first psychotic episode (CAFEPS study)

Abstract

We analyzed the potential influence of family relationships and history of psychiatric disorders on the presentation and course of early psychotic disorders. We recruited 110 subjects aged 9-17 years with a first psychotic episode and 98 matched healthy controls, and followed them for 1 year. Data were collected through clinical interviews and the Parent-Adolescent Communication Inventory. A family history of psychosis-related disorders was more common in patients' families, with a five-fold higher risk for psychoses related disorders than families of healthy controls. If we consider psychoses related disorder in first-degree relatives, the risk is even higher, rising to 15-fold. The families of patients with a first psychotic episode score themselves worse in communication than the families of healthy controls. More problems in communication at baseline correlated with a higher degree of psychopathology and a lower clinical improvement after 12 months of follow-up.