Early diagnosis of schizophrenia
By Elisa Nuñez Acosta
On the one hand, the lack of early schizophrenia detections can aggravate its progression. On the other hand, early diagnosis can reduce years with disability. It also could prevent caretakers’ stress, deterioration of patient’s functioning, as well as their suffering.
Currently, research is developing tools able to make early detections. For instance, neuroimaging, a technology that helps studying brain health and diagnosing disease, is useful in detecting brain activity of people at risk of schizophrenic psychosis.
Specifically, a technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS, can provide markers related to individuals at risk for psychosis. It is still necessary to develop more research before such findings are applied systematically in clinical settings.
Schizophrenia onset can also be catalyzed by genetic traits. For example, recent findings show an association between the genetic risk of developing schizophrenia and its emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral manifestations.
These findings show a relation between genetic risk and cognitive performance, such as education completed and rates of employment in adulthood. Thus, experts suggest that cognitive impairments could be a red flag of disease onset during childhood and adolescence in individuals with family risk antecedents.
Much of the current research in obtaining early diagnosis is not ready to be implemented in clinic yet. However, it is important to take advantage of the current available tools to diagnose schizophrenia promptly, as well as to obtain timely treatment and support. Ultimately, this will improve the lives of patients.
