Current psychotic-like experiences among adolescents in China: Identifying risk and protective factors

Dongfang Wang; Huilin Chen; Zihao Chen; Wenxu Liu; Lili Wu; Yao Chen; Meng Sun; Fang Fan

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2022.05.024

Current psychotic-like experiences among adolescents in China: Identifying risk and protective factors

Schizophr Res. 2022 Jun:244:111-117. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.05.024. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Authors

Dongfang Wang¹, Huilin Chen², Zihao Chen¹, Wenxu Liu¹, Lili Wu¹, Yao Chen¹, Meng Sun³, Fang Fan⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
² Department of Psychology, University of Bath, UK.
³ Department of Social Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.
⁴ School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: fangfan@scnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35661996
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.05.024

Abstract

Objective: This study aim to explore the prevalence of current PLEs over past month and relevant influential factors among adolescents.

Methods: A total of 67,538 students completed one online survey between April 21st and May 12th, 2021. Current PLEs were assessed using the 8-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P8). Participants were defined as having frequent PLEs if they selected "often" or "nearly always" on one or more items of CAPE-P8. Family function, school climate and a series of socio-demographic were also evaluated.

Results: In this sample, 49.3% adolescents reported having at least one PLE over the past month, while 15.4% experienced high frequent PLEs. Alcohol intake was positively associated with high frequent PLEs (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 2.37-2.88). Adolescents with chronic physical illness (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.73-2.18) or family history of psychiatric illness (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 2.22-2.77) were more likely to suffer from high frequent PLEs. Dysfunction family function (OR _moderate = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.98-2.09; OR _severe = 6.98, 95% CI = 6.48-7.53) or poor school climate (OR = 3.14, 95% CI = 2.93-3.37) was associated with elevated high frequent PLEs.

Conclusions: Several factors of socio-demographics, unhealthy lifestyle, family and school environments are found to be related to frequent PLEs. These factors should also be taken into consideration for effective psychosocial intervention in adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescents; Protective factors; Psychotic-like experiences; Risk factors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Mental Disorders* / epidemiology
Protective Factors
Psychotic Disorders* / epidemiology
Psychotic Disorders* / psychology
Risk Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires