Neuroradiological and clinical study in a population of adolescents suffering from psychosis, attenuated psychosis, non-psychotic psychiatric disorders

Neuroradiological MRI studies and meta-analyses of patients with psychotic symptoms have consistently reported evidence of structural abnormalities. Early identification of subjects at high risk for psychosis, like in attenuated psychotic syndrome, may help in preventing of the onset of a frank psychotic disorder. Since early onset psychosis generally has a poorer outcome than adult-onset, early detection strategies in adolescents are being intensively investigated. Identification of biomarkers and anatomic endophenotypes for psychosis could disclose key processes involved in the transition to frank psychosis. We investigated the presence of brain structural alterations in adolescents with non psychotic psychiatric disorders, attenuated psychosis and psychosis and their correlation with cognitive indexes for speed processing and working memory.