A Comparative Study of 470 Cases of Early-Onset and Late-Onset Schizophrenia

1993 ◽  
Vol 163 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Howard ◽  
David Castle ◽  
Simon Wessely ◽  
Robin Murray

The presence or absence of 22 schizophrenic symptoms was recorded with the age at onset of illness in 470 patients with non-affective, non-organic psychoses. Positive and negative formal thought disorder, affective symptoms, inappropriate affect, delusions of grandiosity or passivity, primary delusions other than delusional perception, and thought insertion and withdrawal were all more common in early-onset cases (age at onset 44 years or less;n= 336). Persecutory delusions with and without hallucinations, organised delusions, and third-person, running commentary and accusatory or abusive auditory hallucinations were all more common in late-onset cases (age at onset 45 years or more;n= 134). There was no difference between cases of early and late onset in the prevalence of delusions of reference, bizarre delusions, delusional perception, or lack of insight. We conclude that although there are clinical similarities between cases of schizophrenia with early and late onset, there are sufficient differences between them to suggest that they are not phenotypically homogeneous.

1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oye Gureje ◽  
Rotimi W. Bamidele

Objective: There is evidence that gender and age at onset may have a bearing on schizophrenia. The extent to which this differential age at onset influences the clinical features of schizophrenia and its outcome in males and females is not clear. Method: One hundred and twenty outpatients with DSM-III-R schizophrenia were studied to determine the association of antecedent, historical, clinical and 13–year outcome features with age at onset in females (n = 64) and in males (n = 56). Results: Males were significantly younger at illness onset but were not otherwise different from females in antecedent features of illness. For males, age at onset bore little relationship to outcome after 13 years. Females with early onset of illness were more likely to have experienced obstetric complications, to evidence poorer premor-bid functioning, and to have a worse clinical, social and functional outcome than females with late onset. Conclusions: Even though females may have a more benign illness than males, among females, those with early age at onset may be characterised by neurodevel-opmental deviance and worse illness outcome.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S211-S211
Author(s):  
N. Smaoui ◽  
L. Zouari ◽  
N. Charfi ◽  
M. Maâlej-Bouali ◽  
N. Zouari ◽  
...  

IntroductionAge of onset of illness may be useful in explaining the heterogeneity among older bipolar patients.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship of age of onset with clinical, demographic and behavioral variables, in older patients with bipolar disorder.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, including 24 patients suffering from bipolar disorders, aged 65 years or more and followed-up in outpatient psychiatry unit at Hedi Chaker university hospital in Sfax in Tunisia. We used a standardized questionnaire including socio-demographic, behavioral and clinical data. Age of onset was split at age 40 years into early-onset (< 40 years; n = 12) and late-onset (≥ 40 years; n = 12) groups.ResultsThe mean age for the entire sample was 68.95 years. The mean age of onset was 39.95 years. The majority (60%) of patients were diagnosed with bipolar I. Few meaningful differences emerged between early-onset and late-onset groups, except that tobacco use was significantly higher in the late-onset group (66.6% vs. 16.6%; P = 0.027). No significant differences between the early-onset and late-onset groups were seen on demographic variables, family history and number of medical diagnoses or presence of psychotic features.ConclusionOur study found few meaningful behavioral differences between early versus late age at onset in older adults with bipolar disorder.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne G. J. Reid

One hundred and seven newly diagnosed, untreated patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) were divided into two groups according to their age at reported onset of symptoms. Of these, 79 patients were under age 70 (early-onset) and 28 patients were age 70 and over (late-onset). The group of 50 control subjects comprised spouses, friends of the PD patients, and community volunteers. The patients were participants in a multicenter drug study of Parkinson's disease. Each had received a detailed neurological and neuropsychological assessment in the baseline placebo phases of the study. Thirty-4 patients with early-onset and 12 patients with late-onset were reassessed 3 years after treatment with low-dose levodopa, with bromocriptine, or with a combination of the two drugs. The results of the baseline phase of the study revealed that 8% of the early-onset group and 32% of the late-onset group were classified as demented. The 3-year follow-up revealed that the prevalence of dementia had increased to 17% in the early-onset group and to 83% in the late-onset group. This study confirms that at least two distinct subtypes of Parkinson's disease exist. The subtypes differ both clinically and neuropsychologically. The age at onset of symptoms is a critical determinant of the rate and type of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease.


Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (11) ◽  
pp. e1171-e1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Cortés-Vicente ◽  
Rodrigo Álvarez-Velasco ◽  
Sonia Segovia ◽  
Carmen Paradas ◽  
Carlos Casasnovas ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo describe the characteristics of patients with very-late-onset myasthenia gravis (MG).MethodsThis observational cross-sectional multicenter study was based on information in the neurologist-driven Spanish Registry of Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD-ES). All patients were >18 years of age at onset of MG and onset occurred between 2000 and 2016 in all cases. Patients were classified into 3 age subgroups: early-onset MG (age at onset <50 years), late-onset MG (onset ≥50 and <65 years), and very-late-onset MG (onset ≥65 years). Demographic, immunologic, clinical, and therapeutic data were reviewed.ResultsA total of 939 patients from 15 hospitals were included: 288 (30.7%) had early-onset MG, 227 (24.2%) late-onset MG, and 424 (45.2%) very-late-onset MG. The mean follow-up was 9.1 years (SD 4.3). Patients with late onset and very late onset were more frequently men (p < 0.0001). Compared to the early-onset and late-onset groups, in the very-late-onset group, the presence of anti–acetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR) antibodies (p < 0.0001) was higher and fewer patients had thymoma (p < 0.0001). Late-onset MG and very-late-onset MG groups more frequently had ocular MG, both at onset (<0.0001) and at maximal worsening (p = 0.001). Although the very-late-onset group presented more life-threatening events (Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America IVB and V) at onset (p = 0.002), they required fewer drugs (p < 0.0001) and were less frequently drug-refractory (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsPatients with MG are primarily ≥65 years of age with anti-AChR antibodies and no thymoma. Although patients with very-late-onset MG may present life-threatening events at onset, they achieve a good outcome with fewer immunosuppressants when diagnosed and treated properly.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S471-S471
Author(s):  
R. Martín Aragón ◽  
M. Gutiérrez Rodríguez ◽  
S. Bravo Herrero ◽  
C. Moreno Menguian ◽  
N. Rodríguez Criado ◽  
...  

IntroductionSchizophrenia has traditionally been considered to strictly be an early-onset disorder. Current nosologies, including DSMV, are not restrictive with age of onset in schizophrenia and all patients that satisfy diagnostic criteria fall into the same category. Since 1998, International Late-Onset Schizophrenia Group consensus, patients after 60 are classified as very-late onset schizophrenia-like psychosis. Female overrepresentation, low prevalence of formal thought disorder, and a higher prevalence of visual hallucinations are associated with later age at onset. Atypical antipsychotics represent the election treatment because of the reduced likelihood of EPS and tardive dyskinesias, and should be started at very low doses, with slow increases.ObjectiveTo review the current knowledge about very late-onset schizophrenia through systematic review of the literature and the analysis of a case.MethodsCase Report. Review. Literature sources were obtained through electronic search in PubMed database of last fifteen years.ResultsWe present a case of a 86-year-old woman suffering from delusions and hallucinations, diagnosed with very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis, after differential diagnosis with other disorders. We analyze ethiology, epidemiology, clinical features and treatment in geriatric patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionsReluctance to diagnose schizophrenia in old people is still present today, probably in relation with the inconsistency in diagnostic systems and nomenclature, and consideration of medical conditions in the diagnosis. Identification of these patients is really important in order to start an appropriate treatment, which can lead to patient clinical stability.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 373-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvaro Barrera ◽  
Owen Curwell-Parry ◽  
Marie-Claire Raphael

SUMMARYSince its first description in 1863, ‘hebephrenia’ has highlighted a group of patients characterised by an early onset of illness, formal thought disorder, bizarre behaviour and incongruent emotional expression. A proportion of patients with the most severe form of mental illness have a clinical presentation that is best captured by this diagnosis. Here, we outline the construct of hebephrenia and two of its core overlapping constituent parts: bizarre behaviour and the disorganisation dimension. We argue that, despite the removal of hebephrenia (disorganised schizophrenia) from DSM-5, clinicians should consider it as a differential diagnosis, particularly in suspected personality disorder.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-171
Author(s):  
Simon R. M. Dobson ◽  
Carol J. Baker

Fifty-six neonates with enterococcal septicemia in a single hospital from 1977 through 1986 were studied. The incidence was low and constant until 1983, when an increase, attributable to infections in infants older than 7 days of age (late-onset), was noted. These infants were more premature (mean gestational age 29.5 vs 36.9 weeks) and had lower birth weights (mean 1250 vs 2700 g) than those with early-onset enterococcal sepsis, and in most the infections were characterized by a nosocomial origin. Infants with early-onset infection had a mild illness with respiratory distress typical of other etiologic agents or diarrhea without focal infection. By contrast, late-onset enterococcal sepsis was heralded by severe apnea, bradycardia, circulatory collapse, and increased ventilatory requirements. Focal infections, including scalp abscess or catheter-related infection (23% each), meningitis or pneumonia (15% each), were common. Rapid clinical improvement and clearance of bacteremia resulted from therapy with an aminoglycoside and either ampicillin or vancomycin, but only if abscesses were drained and intravascular catheters were removed. Mortality rates for early-onset, late-onset, and necrotizing entercolitis-associated infection were 6, 8, and 17%, respectively. Enterococcus is a frequent cause of late-onset septicemia in premature neonates, and empiric therapy should include appropriate antimicrobial agents.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naima Javaid ◽  
James L. Kennedy ◽  
Vincenzo De Luca

AbstractIntroductionTo determine the influence of ethnicity on the age at onset (AAO) and further understand the significance of AAO as a clinical marker of bipolar and schizoaffective disorders.MethodsAdmixture analysis was used to identify sub-groups characterized by differences in AAO. Differences in clinical features were analyzed for these sub-groups using multivariate logistic regression. Comparisons were made with previous studies using the 2-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test.ResultsAdmixture analysis yielded a combination of 2 normal theoretical distributions with means (SD) of 16.9 (3.6) for the early-onset sub-group and 24.4 (9.2) years for the late-onset sub-group. The sub-groups were divided by a cut-off of 22 years. There were significant differences between the early and late onset bipolar patient populations regarding substance abuse comorbidity (P=.044) and psychotic features (P=.015). Ethnicity did not have a significant influence on the AAO.DiscussionThe associations between early-onset and higher incidence of psychosis and substance abuse in our sample are consistent with other studies exploring the AAO in bipolar disorder.ConclusionOur findings support the notion of AAO as a clinical marker for the underlying heterogeneity of bipolar spectrum disorders. In particular, we found a strong overlap of early AAO with clinical features associated with greater severity and poor outcome.


2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1008-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARLOS MONTILLA ◽  
JAVIER DEL PINO-MONTES ◽  
EDUARDO COLLANTES-ESTEVEZ ◽  
PILAR FONT ◽  
PEDRO ZARCO ◽  
...  

Objective.Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is generally observed in young patients but can occur later in life or in persons ≥ 50 years of age. Our objective was to characterize the clinical features of late-onset AS in a large multicenter national cohort.Methods.We studied late-onset AS in the National Registry of Spondyloarthritis of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (REGISPONSER database) cohort (n = 1257), of whom 3.5% had onset at age ≥ 50 years versus a control group with onset at < 50 years.Results.There were no differences between late-onset and early-onset AS according to sex and family history of spondyloarthropathies. Patients in the late-onset group more often showed involvement of the cervical spine (22.7% vs 9.7%; p = 0.03) and arthritis of the upper (13.6% vs 3.0%; p = 0.002) and lower limbs (27.3% vs 15.2%; p = 0.03) as first manifestations than did patients in the early-onset group. A higher percentage of mixed forms (axial and peripheral joint disease) during the course of the disease was also recorded in the late-onset group (50% vs 24%; p = 0.0001).Conclusion.Our study suggests that age at onset of AS affects the patients’ presenting clinical form. Arthritis of the upper limbs requires a differential diagnosis with other conditions frequent in patients over 50 years of age, such as rheumatoid arthritis or crystal-induced arthropathy.


1999 ◽  
Vol 175 (5) ◽  
pp. 410-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Brodaty ◽  
Perminder Sachdev ◽  
Noelene Rose ◽  
Kylie Rylands ◽  
Leanne Prenter

BackgroundSchizophrenia occurring for the first time in late life may be a distinct entity or part of a continuum.AimsCan late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) and early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) be differentiated by their phenomenology and risk factors to their development?MethodConvenience samples of 27 DSM–III–R defined LOS subjects, 30 EOS subjects and 34 control subjects were systematically assessed.ResultsPremorbidly, both groups of subjects with schizophrenia had personality traits that were different from controls but not from each other. The EOS subjects had more family members with a history of psychiatric illness or schizophrenia and less hearing impairment than the other two groups, which did not differ from each other. Clinically, LOS and EOS subjects were similar, except that EOS subjects had more negative symptom scores, tended to have more delusions of guilt/sin and of being controlled and more formal thought disorder, and had significantly poorer instrumental activities of daily living.ConclusionsPhenomenology and risk factors do not distinguish discrete LOS.


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