Retrospective analysis of psychopathological presentation of psychotic episodes in adolescent inpatients

Aim. Analysis of a clinical presentation and course of psychotic episodes in adolescent inpatients. Method. A retrospective analysis of charts of all (n=104) inpatients diagnosed with one of the schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder and acute and transient psychotic disorders: F20, F21 and F23 according to ICD-10) and assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) over a 10-year period (1998-2008) in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department. A psychopathological profile of different disorders and correlation between symptoms and demographic and clinical data were analysed. Results. Severity of symptoms correlated with length of hospitalisation. In schizophrenia higher PANSS total score and more severe some general symptoms then in schizotypal disorders were observed. Also in schizophrenia more negative symptoms then in acute and transient psychotic disorders were detected. In all three disorders, the psychopathological profile included negative symptoms. Conclusion. In schizophrenia psychopathological symptoms were more severe than in other disorders. Presence of negative symptoms may indicate that all schizophrenia spectrum disorders may have a neurodevelopmental component.