Risk factors in early and late onset schizophrenia

Abstract

Background This study looks at key risk factors in patients with schizophrenia to identify trends according to age of onset, comparing presentations prior to 26 years (youth onset), between 26 and 40 years (middle onset), and after 40 years of age (late onset). Methods The early psychosis program at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne treats patients presenting in the early stages of psychosis between 16 and 65 years of age. A database was developed to capture key risk factors in all patients with an eventual diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 225). Risk factor profiles were then generated and compared for patients based on age of onset. Results Older age of onset was associated with weaker family ..