Longitudinal patterns of sensory and paranoid psychotic-like experiences in adolescents: Associations with distress, psychopathology, and substance use
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Background
Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have been shown to increase the risk for mental health problems in later life, especially psychosis. Following previously raised methodological concerns about the assessment of PLEs in adolescents, this study sought to differentiate subtypes of PLEs and to explore their trajectories.
Methods
Longitudinally matched data of 671 German adolescents from three surveys over the time span of one year were analysed. Four trajectories were identified, including persisting, subsiding, and emerging highly indicative PLEs (HIPs), and non-highly indicative PLEs (non-HIPs), and longitudinally compared in terms of associated distress, psychopathology, and substance use. A differentiated never PLEs group was considered as a control.
Results
The persisting HIPs group reported greater distress than the non-HIP group over time and was consistently associated with higher rates of internalising symptoms. The subsiding HIP group showed significant reductions in distress and internalising symptoms over time, but no significant changes regarding externalising symptoms and substance use. There was no difference in the extent of substance use between the groups.
Conclusions
Screenings of PLEs should be mindful of different subtypes of PLEs that indicate a greater associated risk of poor mental health. PLE screening should not stop at whether PLEs are present but ask which ones.
