Response initiation in young adults at risk for psychosis in the Northern Finland 1986 Birth Cohort

Abstract

Introduction

This is one of the very few studies to investigate the specific executive function/processing speed component of response initiation in subjects at familial risk (FR) for psychosis, and the first such study in subjects at clinical risk (CR) for psychosis.

Methods

Participants (N = 177) were members of the general population-based Northern Finland 1986 Birth Cohort in the following four groups: FR for psychosis (n = 62), CR for psychosis (n = 21), psychosis (n = 25) and control subjects (n = 69). The response initiation of these groups was compared in three different tests: Semantic fluency, Stockings of Cambridge and Spatial working memory.

Results

The two risk groups did not differ significantly from control group, but differed from, and outperformed the psychosis group in semantic fluency response initiation.

Conclusions

Response initiation deficits were not evident in a non-help seeking psychosis high-risk sample.

Keywords:

• psychosis
• familial risk
• clinical risk
• birth cohort
• response initiation
• executive functioning

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants of the study, and the other professionals who conducted the assessments in the field in 2007-2010. They would also like to thank the staff of Ward 73, Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital for hospitality and patience with our research staff using the ward for conducting the field study.

Funding

This study has been funded by the Academy of Finland [120 479, 212 848, J.M., and 214 273, J.V.]; the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Finland (P.M.); the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Finland (I.M, J.V.); the Thule Institute, Finland; the Medical Research Council (G.K.M.) and NARSAD: The Brain and Behavior Research Fund (Dr Mortimer D. Sackler Developmental Psychobiology Research Program J.M.); Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation (J.M.); the Medical Foundation Duodecim Oulu; the Orion-Farmos Foundation; the Finnish Medical Foundation (E.J.).

Additional information

Funding

Funding: This study has been funded by the Academy of Finland [120 479, 212 848, J.M., and 214 273, J.V.]; the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Finland (P.M.); the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Finland (I.M, J.V.); the Thule Institute, Finland; the Medical Research Council (G.K.M.) and NARSAD: The Brain and Behavior Research Fund (Dr Mortimer D. Sackler Developmental Psychobiology Research Program J.M.); Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation (J.M.); the Medical Foundation Duodecim Oulu; the Orion-Farmos Foundation; the Finnish Medical Foundation (E.J.).