Neuropsychological profile according to the clinical stage of young persons presenting for mental health care.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinical staging of mental disorders proposes that individuals can be assessed at various sub-syndromal and later developed phases of illness. As an adjunctive rating, it may complement traditional diagnostic silo-based approaches. In this study, we sought to determine the relationships between clinical stage and neuropsychological profile in young persons presenting to youth-focused mental health services. METHODS: Neuropsychological testing of 194 help-seeking young people (mean age 22.6 years, 52% female) and 50 healthy controls. Clinical staging rated 94 persons as having an 'attenuated syndrome' (stage 1b) and 100 with a discrete or persistent disorder (stage 2/3). RESULTS: ..