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Psychotic-like experiences in the adolescent general population
Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero1, Marta Santarén-Rosell, Sserafin Lemos-Giráldez
1Psychology Department, Universidad de Oviedo, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental CIBERSAM. efonseca@cop.es
Actas Espanolas De Psiquiatria
|May 12, 2011
Summary
Psychotic-like experiences are common in adolescents, with 43% reporting symptoms. Gender influences ideas of reference and paranoid ideation, but age does not impact these psychotic symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Mental Health
Background:
- Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are subclinical symptoms.
- Understanding PLEs in adolescents is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze the prevalence of PLEs in nonclinical adolescents.
- Investigate the influence of gender and age on PLEs.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 1438 adolescents (mean age 15.9 years, 48.1% male).
- Assessed symptoms including magical thinking, ideas of reference, delusions, and hallucinations.
Main Results:
- 43% of adolescents reported PLEs (magical thinking, ideas of reference, delusion/hallucination experiences).
- 8.9% reported 4 or more PLEs.
- Significant gender differences observed in ideas of reference and paranoid ideation; no age-related differences found.
Conclusions:
- Attenuated psychotic symptoms are prevalent in adolescents.
- Findings support early detection and prevention programs for developmental psychopathology.
- Results align with previous research on adolescent PLEs.
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