Schreier, Andrea, Wolke, Dieter, Thomas, Kate, Horwood, Jeremy, Hollis, Chris, Gunnell, David, Lewis, Glyn, Thompson, Andrew D., Zammit, Stanley, Duffy, Larisa, Salvi, Giovanni and Harrison, Glynn (2009) Prospective study of peer victimization in childhood and psychotic symptoms in a nonclinical population at age 12 years. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66 (5). pp. 527-536. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.23

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Abstract

Context: Psychotic symptoms are commonly experienced in nonclinical populations of adolescents and adults and have been shown to be predictive of later schizophreniform disorders. Associations between adverse experiences in childhood and psychotic symptoms in adulthood have been demonstrated.

Objective: To examine whether peer victimization is associated with psychotic symptoms in a population-based sample of 12-year-olds.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Assessment clinic for 12-year-old members of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort in Bristol, England, where parents had participated since pregnancy and their children completed a range of physical and psychological annual assessments since age 7 years.

Participants: A total of 6437 respondents with complete interviews (mean age, 12.9 years).

Main Outcome Measure: The Psychosis-like Symptoms Interview developed for the study using stem questions, glossary definitions, and rating rules, adapted from the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV and the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. The interview, carried out by trained psychology graduates, investigated respondents' experience of psychotic symptoms ( hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders) over the previous 6 months.

Results: The risk of psychotic symptoms was increased about 2-fold ( odds ratio=1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-2.44) among victims of bullying at ages 8 and/ or 10 years, independent of other prior psychopathology, family adversity, or child's IQ. Similar results were found using mother and teacher reports of victimization. Associations were stronger ( up to odds ratio=4.60; 95% confidence interval, 3.24-6.50) when victimization was chronic or severe (ie, experience of relational as well as overt victimization reported).

Conclusions: Peer victimization in childhood, especially if it is chronic or severe, is associated with psychotic symptoms in early adolescence. These results lend further support to the relevance of psychosocial factors in the etiology of psychotic symptoms in nonclinical populations, which may increase the risk of adult-onset psychotic disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66(5):527-536

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Aggressiveness in children, Child development, Bullying, Child psychopathology, Psychoses in children
Journal or Publication Title:	Archives of General Psychiatry
Publisher:	American Medical Association
ISSN:	0003-990X
Official Date:	1 May 2009
Dates:	Date Event 1 May 2009 Published
Volume:	66
Number:	5
Number of Pages:	10
Page Range:	pp. 527-536
DOI:	10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.23
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Wellcome Trust (London, England), Medical Research Council (Great Britain) (MRC), University of Bristol
Grant number:	GR072043MA (WT)

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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