Seline Ismail-Sutton
Cardiff University Medical School, UK
Title: Which environmental factors are associated with prodromal psychotic symptoms in individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome?
Biography
Biography: Seline Ismail-Sutton
Abstract
Background: The 22q11.2DS (22q11.2 deletion syndrome) is a model of both genetic vulnerability and early traumatic experiences, yielding a varied phenotype, including a high prevalence of psychotic disorders. The factors leading to only a proportion developing prodromal psychotic symptoms are largely unknown, despite the prodromal phase being hailed as a key time for intervention. We investigated the relationship between: stressful and positive life events (SLEs and PLEs), family environment, socioeconomic background, birth order and season, and prodromal and psychotic symptoms.
Method: Variable and prodromal/ psychotic symptom data was collected using questionnaires created by Cardiff University ECHO study and the SIPS (structured interview for prodromal symptoms), and subsequently analyzed using SPSS. The sample size was between 22-48 individuals for different variables, mean age: 15.7, 54.2% females.
Results: Individuals with prodromal psychotic symptoms had significantly lower: PLEs, cohesion, conflict and family environmental scores (corresponding to better cohesion and family functioning and less conflict): M:26.93, SD:3.86 and M:32, SD:1.92, p=0.002, M:54.53, SD:7.94, M:65.43, SD:3.46, p=0.003 and M:27.6, SD:4.72, M:33.43, SD:2.070, p=0.006, M:1.04, SD:1.72 and M:1.71, SD:1.31, p=0.016. Individuals with prodromal psychotic symptoms had non-significantly higher SLEs and deprivation index: M:1.87, SD: 1.73 and M:6, SD:2.75, M:6.92 SD:1.83, p=0.239. A non-significantly increased relative risk was present for spring/winter births, relative to autumn/summer: RR:1.21, CI:0.79-1.86, p=0.364. No significant differences were found for self-esteem and birth order.
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the interplay between environmental factors and genetic vulnerability in the development of prodromal psychotic symptoms. Thus, providing potential opportunities for early intervention to create a more supportive developmental environment.