Self-reported premorbid health in 15 individuals who later developed schizophrenia compared with healthy controls: Prospective data from the Young-HUNT1 Survey (The HUNT Study)

Abstract

Objective: The study investigated whether youths who later developed schizophrenia would report poorer mental and psychosocial health compared with matched healthy controls. Method: The study had a prospective case control design. Data were extracted from the Norwegian health survey, the Young-HUNT1 survey (collected between 1995–1997). Results: The case group reported poorer subjective well-being, more negative emotions, and more difficulties related to social function compared to healthy controls. Several of them smoked nicotine daily and they were less physically active. Conclusions: The results support other studies showing that premorbid schizophrenia is associated with negative emotions and social disturbances. The results also reveal that negative subjective well-being and problems with smoking and inactivity were present before onset of the disease.