Introduction: This is one of the very few studies to investigate the specific executive function/processing speed component of response initiation in subjects at familial risk (FR) for psychosis, and the first such study in subjects at clinical risk (CR) for psychosis.
Methods: Participants (N = 177) were members of the general population-based Northern Finland 1986 Birth Cohort in the following four groups: FR for psychosis (n = 62), CR for psychosis (n = 21), psychosis (n = 25) and control subjects (n = 69). The response initiation of these groups was compared in three different tests: Semantic fluency, Stockings of Cambridge and Spatial working memory.
Results: The two risk groups did not differ significantly from control group, but differed from, and outperformed the psychosis group in semantic fluency response initiation.
Conclusions: Response initiation deficits were not evident in a non-help seeking psychosis high-risk sample.