Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Jan Scott
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
© 2020 Elsevier LtdMental disorders and their functional impacts evolve dynamically over time. Neurocognition and clinical symptoms are commonly modelled as predictors of functioning, however, studies tend to rely on static variables and adult samples with chronic disorders, with limited research investigating change in these variables in young people with emerging mental disorders. These relationships were explored in a longitudinal clinical cohort of young people accessing early intervention mental health services in Australia, around three-quarters of whom presented with a mood disorder (N = 176, aged 12–30 at baseline). Bivariate latent change score models quantified associations between neurocognition (a latent variable of working memory, verbal memory, visuospatial memory, and cognitive flexibility), global clinical symptoms, and functioning (self- and clinician-rated) and their relative change over follow-up (median = 20 months). We found that longitudinal changes in functioning were coupled with changes in global clinical symptoms (β = −0.43, P < 0.001), such that improvement in functioning was related to improvement in clinical symptoms. Changes in neurocognition were not significantly associated with changes in functioning or clinical symptoms. Main findings were upheld in three sensitivity analyses restricting the sample to: (a) adults aged 18–30; (b) participants with 12–24 months of follow-up; and (c) participants without a psychotic disorder. Our findings show that global symptom reduction and functional improvement are related in young people with emerging mental disorders. More work is needed to determine the temporal precedence of change in these variables. Future studies should apply this methodology to intervention studies to untangle the causal dynamics between neurocognition, symptoms, and functioning.
Author(s): Crouse JJ, Chitty KM, White D, Lee RSC, Moustafa AA, Naismith SL, Scott J, Hermens DF, Hickie IB
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Psychiatric Research
Year: 2020
Volume: 131
Pages: 22-30
Online publication date: 27/08/2020
Acceptance date: 22/08/2020
ISSN (print): 0022-3956
ISSN (electronic): 1879-1379
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.08.028
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.08.028
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
