Schizophrenia with onset in adolescence: an 11-year followup.

This study examined the course of illness and factors affecting it in schizophrenias with onset between the ages of 14 and 18. Noteworthy in comparison to findings from other followup studies is the higher proportion of chronic courses of illness, about 50 percent. In addition, the type of course of illness corresponds in general with the treatment status. A possible explanation for this observation is the early age of onset, at which point the patient has not yet developed a sufficient degree of social and emotional independence and maturity before developing a schizophrenic psychosis. The age of onset is also shown to be an important predictor for the overall course of illness, as in other studies.