Children With Schizophrenia Spectrum and Depressive Disorders: A Comparative Study of Premorbid Adjustment, Onset Pattern and Severity of Impairment

Premorbid adjustment, onset patterns, and severity of impairment were examined in 66 child psychiatric inpatients with diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizotypal personality disorder, major depression, and dysthymic disorder. When compared to children with depressive disorders, schizophrenic and schizotypal children showed poorer premorbid adjustments, lower IQs, greater impairment at hospitalization, and more chronic dysfunctions. Similar developmental patterns were found for children with schizophrenic and schizotypal disorders, and for children with major depression and dysthymic disorders. The findings underscore the severe impairment in social adaptation shown by schizophrenic and schizotypal children and the relatively good premorbid adjustments of most depressed children.