In an article published in this month’s issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry, scientists funded by the National Institute of Mental Health said youths who are going to develop serious mental illness can be identified before their illness becomes full-blown if they have certain risk factors. Although further studies are needed to confirm their theory, the scientists from nine research facilities listed combinations of factors that preceded psychosis as including:

• a family history of psychosis combined with recent decline in ability to function (such as a drop in grades not explained by other factors or an unexplained withdrawal from extracurricular school activities);

• increase in unusual thoughts (such as thinking that strangers’ conversations are about oneself);

• increase in suspicion/paranoia (such as suspicion of being followed;

• past or current drug abuse.

Researchers noted in their study of high-risk youth that those who progressed to a psychotic disorder did so relatively quickly, making it critical to get them help as early as possible. A news release describing the study is available at www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2008/nimh-07.htm. The full text of the study appears in the January 7, 2008, issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.