The development in rating-based executive functions in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder from age 7 to age 11: the Danish high risk and resilience study

TY - JOUR

T1 - The development in rating-based executive functions in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder from age 7 to age 11

T2 - the Danish high risk and resilience study

AU - Andreassen, Anna Krogh

AU - Lambek, Rikke

AU - Greve, Aja

AU - Hemager, Nicoline

AU - Knudsen, Christina Bruun

AU - Veddum, Lotte

AU - Birk, Merete

AU - Søndergaard, Anne

AU - Brandt, Julie Marie

AU - Gregersen, Maja

AU - Falkenberg-Krantz, Mette

AU - Spang, Katrine Søborg

AU - Ohland, Jessica

AU - Burton, Birgitte Klee

AU - Jepsen, Jens Richardt Møllegaard

AU - Thorup, Anne Amalie Elgaard

AU - Nordentoft, Merete

AU - Mors, Ole

AU - Bliksted, Vibeke Fuglsang

PY - 2024/2

Y1 - 2024/2

N2 - Executive functions (EF) deficits are well documented in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ), and to a lesser degree in children at familial high risk of bipolar disorder (FHR-BP). The aim of this study was to assess EF development in preadolescent children at FHR-SZ, FHR-BP and population-based controls (PBC) using a multi-informant rating scale. A total of 519 children (FHR-SZ, n = 201; FHR-BP, n = 119; PBC, n = 199) participated at age 7, at age 11 or at both time points. Caregivers and teachers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF). The developmental pattern from age 7 to age 11, did not differ between groups. At age 11, caregivers and teachers rated children at FHR-SZ as having widespread EF deficits. A higher proportion of children at FHR-SZ had clinically significant scores on the General executive composite (GEC) and all BRIEF indices compared to PBC. According to the caregivers, children at FHR-BP had significantly more EF deficits than PBC on 9 out of 13 BRIEF scales, whereas according to teachers, they only had significantly more deficits on one subdomain (Initiate). Likewise, caregivers rated a significantly higher proportion of children at FHR-BP above the clinical cut-off on the GEC and Metacognition index, compared to PBC, whereas there were no significant differences according to teachers. This study highlights the relevance of including multi-informant rating scales in the assessment of EF in children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP. The results imply a need to identify children at high risk who would benefit from targeted intervention.

AB - Executive functions (EF) deficits are well documented in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ), and to a lesser degree in children at familial high risk of bipolar disorder (FHR-BP). The aim of this study was to assess EF development in preadolescent children at FHR-SZ, FHR-BP and population-based controls (PBC) using a multi-informant rating scale. A total of 519 children (FHR-SZ, n = 201; FHR-BP, n = 119; PBC, n = 199) participated at age 7, at age 11 or at both time points. Caregivers and teachers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF). The developmental pattern from age 7 to age 11, did not differ between groups. At age 11, caregivers and teachers rated children at FHR-SZ as having widespread EF deficits. A higher proportion of children at FHR-SZ had clinically significant scores on the General executive composite (GEC) and all BRIEF indices compared to PBC. According to the caregivers, children at FHR-BP had significantly more EF deficits than PBC on 9 out of 13 BRIEF scales, whereas according to teachers, they only had significantly more deficits on one subdomain (Initiate). Likewise, caregivers rated a significantly higher proportion of children at FHR-BP above the clinical cut-off on the GEC and Metacognition index, compared to PBC, whereas there were no significant differences according to teachers. This study highlights the relevance of including multi-informant rating scales in the assessment of EF in children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP. The results imply a need to identify children at high risk who would benefit from targeted intervention.

KW - BRIEF

KW - Bipolar disorder

KW - Development

KW - Executive functions

KW - Rating-based assessment

KW - Schizophrenia

KW - Schizophrenia/diagnosis

KW - Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis

KW - Humans

KW - Denmark

KW - Resilience, Psychological

KW - Child

KW - Executive Function

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149407537&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s00787-023-02177-w

DO - 10.1007/s00787-023-02177-w

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36881155

SN - 1018-8827

VL - 33

SP - 549

EP - 560

JO - European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

JF - European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

IS - 2

ER -