Predicting Psychotic Illness in Teens (broadcast Friday, January 11th, 2008)

Researchers say that by examining the specific combination of risk factors an individual teen has, they can predict which with 65 to 80 percent accuracy whether that teen will be merely 'at risk' for psychotic illness, or whether he or she will cross the threshold and actually develop a psychotic illness. "These findings demonstrate that prospective ascertainment of individuals at risk for psychosis is feasible, with a level of predictive accuracy comparable to that in other areas of preventive medicine," wrote Tyrone Cannon and colleagues in the journal 'Archives of General Psychiatry.' In this segment, Ira talks with Cannon about the work and how it may change the mental health treatment given to at-risk teens. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.