Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 51, No 2, June, 2012
UDK 61
ISSN 0365-4478(Printed version)
ISSN 1821-2794(Online)

Correspondence to:

Jelena Kostić

Mental Health Clinic

Clinical Centre Niš

Bul. Zorana Đinđića 48

18000 Niš, Serbia

E-mail: jelenakostic73@gmail.com

Case report                                                                                           

UDC: 616.895.8

doi:10.5633/amm.2012.0204

PRODROMAL PHASE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY ONSET SCHIZOPHRENIC PSYCHOSIS - CASE REPORT

Jelena Kostić¹, Miodrag Stanković^1,2, Milkica Nešić^3,4 and Dragana Krasić¹

Mental Health Clinic, Clinical Centre Niš, Niš, Serbia¹

State University of Novi Pazar, Department of Psychology²

University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Niš, Serbia³

University of Niš, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, Niš, Serbia⁴

Schizophrenia and other mental disorders are often preceded by prodromal changes in behavior that can last from several days to several years, indicating the beginning of psychosis. If the disease starts at an earlier age, especially in adolescence, the prodromal phase is more non-specific and difficult to detect. There is a large number of operational instruments used for clinical assessment and quantification of prodromal symptoms and "at risk mental state", as well as the predictive potential for psychosis. This paper describes the prodromal phase in the development of early onset schizophrenic psychosis, with the emphasis on gradual, several-month psychopatho-logical accumulation and evolution of nonspecific and subclinical, prodromal symptoms to florid schizophrenic symptoms. Acta Medica Medianae 2012;51(2):19-24.

      Key words: prodrome, schizophrenia, adolescence