Studying Psychotic Episodes in Children and Teens to Improve Treatment with Antipsychotic Medication

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the wide range of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders in children and adolescents aged 7 to 20 years. The study aims to identify clinical subgroups within this population and determine if these groups predict how patients respond to specific antipsychotic medications. This research involves collaboration across five sites in France and includes both clinical and biological data collection to better understand these conditions. The study involves comprehensive assessments including diagnostic interviews, developmental histories, cognitive testing, neuroimaging MRI, and DNA analyses when patients and families agree. Participants will be monitored over time with follow-up visits scheduled at 1, 3, and 5 years to evaluate treatment responses and changes in clinical and cognitive status. These assessments include evaluating the Lifetime Dimensions of Psychosis Scale in children and adolescents. Participants will undergo medical and neuropsychological evaluations, speech and language assessments, and complete questionnaires related to psychosis symptoms. MRI scans and blood samples for genetic testing may be collected if consented. Researchers will track clinical changes, cognitive function, and treatment effects using specific scales during follow-up. The main outcome measured is the Lifetime Dimensions of Psychosis Scale at 4 months, with additional long-term evaluations up to 5 years. The total duration of participation spans several years with periodic assessments.

Dimensional and Developmental Profiles of Psychosis in Children and Adolescents