[Mental disorders and the characteristics of development of young children (up to 3 years of age) with a high risk of schizophrenia].

Prospective clinico-psychopathological investigation of 50 young children born to schizophrenic parents revealed that 83% of the children had a common feature: dissociation of mental development that could be termed as a "Schizotypal diathesis" (SD). SD has 3 major course patterns: (1), regredient; (2), stable; (3), progredient. Psychopathologic signs are characteristic for only the 3rd type of SD that is indicative of the schizophrenic character of this dysontogeny. The children with 3rd and 2nd (stable with spontaneous phases) type SD patterns seem to be most vulnerable.