United States: Researchers at UCLA have found that attentional difficulties in childhood combined with genetic factors contribute to a higher risk of psychotic-like symptoms during teenage years.
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Published in Nature Mental Health, the study builds on the known connection between childhood inattention and developmental disorders such as schizophrenia later in life.
Led by Dr. Carrie Bearden, the research analyzed cross-sectional data from approximately 10,000 children over six years to explore how changes in attention correlate with the emergence of psychotic symptoms as children transition into adolescence.
The study examined how genetic predispositions to schizophrenia and attention variability impact the development of psychotic-like experiences, according to legalreader.com.
How were the results found?
The research team assessed children’s initial attention levels alongside other potential mental illness biomarkers.
They found that greater severity of symptoms was associated with psychosis and heightened attention issues, particularly in participants with a higher genetic risk for neuropsychiatric and cognitive disorders.
The findings indicated that variations in attention span acted as a mediator between genetic vulnerabilities and psychotic-like experiences, explaining 4-16 percent of the variance.
While this does not fully explain the link between genetic factors and psychotic symptoms, the results reinforce previous findings about the influence of childhood experiences on future mental health.
Findings of the study
The authors conclude that while not every adolescent exhibiting psychotic-like symptoms will develop schizophrenia, certain symptoms during this critical stage can be indicative of future mental health challenges.
Dr. Bearden emphasized that the study highlights the interaction of diverse risk factors from both genetic and behavioral perspectives, noting that adolescence is a pivotal time for mental health.
This research could pave the way for identifying tailored treatments for early-stage psychosis, ensuring appropriate care during this vulnerable period of life.