Early Identification and Predictive Parsing for High Risk Group of Schizophrenia

An accurate identification of individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) based on psychometric tools to prospectively identify psychosis as early as possible is required for indicated preventive intervention. The diagnostic comparability of several psychometric tools is unknown. To address the psychometric comparability of the CAARMS, SIPS and BSABS for subjects who are the immediate family and three-generation blood kinship of patients with schizophrenia. To verify the viability and reliability of the three instruments for these subjects. subjects who all are immediate family and three-generation blood kinship of patients with schizophreniawere interviewed. All the subjects were assessed for a UHR state by three psychometric tools including CAARMS, SIPS and BSABS. The psychometric diagnosis results including at risk of psychosis (UHR+), not at risk of psychosis (UHR-), and Psychosis. Demographic and clinical characteristics interviewed by these three instruments were also measured. The inter-rater agreement was assessed for evaluation of the coherence of the three scales. Transition rates of CAARMS, SIPS and BSABS for UCH+ subjects within 2 years were also recorded.There is good diagnostic agreement between the CAARMS, SIPS and BSABS towards identification of UHR subjects who are immediate family and three-generation blood kinship of patients with schizophrenia. Also, these three instruments are reliable and valid for assessing and detecting at risk mental states in these subjects.