BACKGROUND: Victimisation in childhood may be associated with adult psychosis. The current study examined this association in the crucial developmental period of early adolescence and investigated whether (1) unwanted sexual experiences, and (2) being bullied, were associated with non-clinical delusional ideation and hallucinatory experiences in a general population sample of 14 year olds. METHODS: Data were derived from standard health screenings of the Youth Health Care Divisions of the Municipal Health Services in Maastricht, the Netherlands. A self-report questionnaire was filled out by a total of 1290 adolescents to assess non-clinical psychotic experiences, as well as experiences of being bullied and sexual trauma. RESULTS: Non-clinical psychotic experiences were strongly and independently associated with both bullying (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.8) and sexual trauma (OR=4.8, 95% CI 2.3-10.1). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that reported associations between childhood victimisation and adult psychosis can be understood in a developmental framework of onset of at-risk mental states in early adolescence. In addition, the data suggest that the traumatic experience of being bullied may also feed the cognitive and biological mechanisms underlying formation of psychotic ideation.
BACKGROUND: Victimisation in childhood may be associated with adult psychosis. The current study examined this association in the crucial developmental period of early adolescence and investigated whether (1) unwanted sexual experiences, and (2) being bullied, were associated with non-clinical delusional ideation and hallucinatory experiences in a general population sample of 14 year olds. METHODS: Data were derived from standard health screenings of the Youth Health Care Divisions of the Municipal Health Services in Maastricht, the Netherlands. A self-report questionnaire was filled out by a total of 1290 adolescents to assess non-clinical psychotic experiences, as well as experiences of being bullied and sexual trauma. RESULTS: Non-clinical psychotic experiences were strongly and independently associated with both bullying (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.8) and sexual trauma (OR=4.8, 95% CI 2.3-10.1). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that reported associations between childhood victimisation and adult psychosis can be understood in a developmental framework of onset of at-risk mental states in early adolescence. In addition, the data suggest that the traumatic experience of being bullied may also feed the cognitive and biological mechanisms underlying formation of psychotic ideation.
Authors: H L Fisher; P B Jones; P Fearon; T K Craig; P Dazzan; K Morgan; G Hutchinson; G A Doody; P McGuffin; J Leff; R M Murray; C Morgan Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2010-02-24 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Esther M B Horrevorts; Karin Monshouwer; Johanna T W Wigman; Wilma A M Vollebergh Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2014-02-12 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Judy L Thompson; Meredith Kelly; David Kimhy; Jill M Harkavy-Friedman; Shamir Khan; Julie W Messinger; Scott Schobel; Ray Goetz; Dolores Malaspina; Cheryl Corcoran Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2009-01-25 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Philippe Conus; Sue Cotton; Benno G Schimmelmann; Patrick D McGorry; Martin Lambert Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2009-04-21 Impact factor: 9.306