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Admixture analysis of age at onset in older patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2020

Maureen M. J. Smeets-Janssen*
Affiliation:
MoleMann Mental Health, Old Age Psychiatry, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Idan M. Aderka
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Paul D. Meesters
Affiliation:
GGZ Friesland, Van Andel Old Age Psychiatry, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Sjors Lange
Affiliation:
Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sigfried Schouws
Affiliation:
Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Didi Rhebergen
Affiliation:
Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Maureen M. J. Smeets-Janssen, MoleMann Mental Health, Department of Old Age Psychiatry Amersfoort, Henry Dunantstraat 32A, 3822 XHAmersfoort, The Netherlands. Phone: 00-31-6-57916709; Fax: 00-31-30-7998647. Email: maureen.smeets@gmail.com.

Abstract

The nature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders with an onset in middle or late adulthood remains controversial. The aim of our study was to determine in patients aged 60 and older if clinically relevant subtypes based on age at onset can be distinguished, using admixture analysis, a data-driven technique. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 94 patients aged 60 and older with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Admixture analysis was used to determine if the distribution of age at onset in this cohort was consistent with one or more populations of origin and to determine cut-offs for age at onset groups, if more than one population could be identified. Results showed that admixture analysis based on age at onset demonstrated only one normally distributed population. Our results suggest that in older schizophrenia patients, early- and late-onset ages form a continuum.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2020

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