According to a study, caregivers could better identify psychotic disorders in a child through DNA analysis.
- According to Public Health France, 470,000 people are treated for psychotic disorders in France (2014)
- According to the Inserm website, regular use of cannabis before the age of 18 doubles the risk of schizophrenia
Children often have an overactive imagination, and in some cases this behavior can be associated with early psychotic disorders. These symptoms could have a genetic cause, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. To better identify them, researchers recommend analysis by chromosomal DNA chips.
137 children
To reach these conclusions, the researchers examined 137 children with early psychosis or psychotic symptoms before the age of 18. Among them, more than 70% had started to suffer from psychosis before the age of 13. And 28% met the criteria for schizophrenia, with persistent symptoms.
All underwent chromosomal tests which revealed, for 40% of them, gene copy number variants, that is, deletions or duplications of pieces of their DNA. A variability that is usually associated with psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. What makes say to the researchers that the psychoses at the child could be detected more quickly.
Diagnose earlier
“Our results argue in favor of a chromosomal DNA chip test in any child or adolescent diagnosed with psychosis”declares in a communicated Catherine Brownstein, who co-directed the study at the University of Montreal. “The tests would allow families to better understand their child’s behavior, and could help advance research.”
“The later the psychosis is detected, the more difficult it is to treat it later”recalls David Glahn, co-author of the research. “If we can treat it earlier and appropriately, the child is likely to do better in life.”
