Prevalence and implications of Truman symptoms in subjects at ultra high risk for psychosis. (30th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madeira, Luis; Bonoldi, Ilaria; Rocchetti, Matteo; Brandizzi, Martina; Samson, Carly; Azis, Matilda; Queen, Beverly; Bossong, Matthijs; Allen, Paul; Perez, Jesus; Howes, Oliver D; McGuire, Philip; Fusar-Poli, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 238(2016)
• Page Start: 270
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2016-04-30
• Subjects: (CAARMS) Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States -- (CDS) Cambridge Depersonalization Scale -- (EASE) Examination of Anomalous Self Experiences -- (HC) Matched healthy controls -- (UHR) Ultra High Risk -- (PANSS) Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale -- (SOFAS) Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale -- (TS) Truman symptoms -- (UHR-TS+) Ultra High Risk subjects with Truman symptoms -- (UHR-TS-) Ultra High Risk subjects without Truman symptoms; At risk mental state -- Psychosis -- Anomalous self experiences -- Truman symptoms -- Depersonalization -- Derealization; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Preliminary qualitative research has suggested that patients with early stages of psychosis and those at Ultra High Risk (UHR) may experience "Truman symptoms" (TS). This study is an exploratory investigation of TS in a sample of 26 UHR subjects and 14 matched controls (HC) recruited from three prodromal and early intervention clinics and its relation with clinical features, depersonalization and basic self-disturbances. The UHR were assessed with the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS) and the Examination of Anomalous Self Experiences (EASE) checklist. In our sample, TS were specific (TS absent in HC) and highly prevalent (50%) in UHR subjects. We found a significant difference in EASE total scores across HC, UHR with TS and without TS but post-hoc analyses showed similar scores in the two latter groups. The presence of TS in our UHR sample was associated with significant higher PANSS general psychopathology but with non-significant difference in the CAARMS, CDS and SOFAS scores. This study of TS in UHR subjects suggested that they might be prevalent and specific of this population. Highlights: Truman symptoms were prevalent in a subgroup of subjects at high risk for psychosis. Truman symptoms were absent in matched healthy controls. Truman symptoms were associated with specific anomalous self experiences.