Short report
Sense and nonsense of detection of preschizophrenia
J. van Os
It is not feasible to screen for cases of pre-schizophrenia in the general population. The prevalence of pre-schizophrenia is too low, resulting in insufficient positive predictive value of (combinations of) risk factors. It is shown, however, that screening for pre-schizophrenia may be possible at level four (mental health out-patient services) of Goldberg and Huxley's filter model, combined with education on psychosis in primary care. Screening for pre-schizophrenia may be attempted at the level of mental health services, not at the level of the general population.