Abstract
Objective: This study investigated whether childhood developmental abnormalities are specifically related to later schizophrenia or are merely a marker for a range of psychiatric outcomes in adulthood.
Method: A 1-year birth cohort (1972–73) of 1037 children, the Dunedin Study, was assessed at biennial intervals between 3 and 11 years on a wide range of developmental domains. At age 26 DSM-IV diagnoses were made using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Study members having schizophreniform disorder (n = 36; 3.7%) were compared on childhood variables against those diagnosed with mania (n = 20; 2%), nonpsychotic anxiety or depression (n = 278; 28.5%), and healthy controls.
Results: Emotional and interpersonal problems were noted in children later diagnosed with any of the adult psychiatric outcomes assessed. However, significant impairments in neuromotor, receptive language, and cognitive development were additionally present only among children later diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder.
Conclusion: The results provide evidence for an early emerging, persistent, pan-developmental impairment that is specifically associated with schizophreniform disorder.