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Psychotic like experiences among Nigerian school adolescents: Findings from the Lagos Schools Emotional and Behavioral Health Survey
Author(s) -
Adewuya Abiodun O.,
Wright Kilelomo,
Njokanma Fidelis
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.13032
Subject(s) - mental health , depression (economics) , medicine , clinical psychology , psychiatry , longitudinal study , psychology , demography , economics , macroeconomics , pathology , sociology
Aim This study aimed to explore the presence of psychotic like experience (PLE) symptoms and evaluate for the possible socio‐demographic, family, school and mental health variables associated with clinically significant PLE symptoms in Nigeria school adolescent. Methods A total of 9441 adolescents from 47 secondary schools in Lagos Nigeria completed questionnaire detailing sociodemographic, family and school related variables. Mental health was assessed with the Mini International Diagnostic Interview for children and adolescents (MINI‐KID). PLE was assessed using the 16‐item version of Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ‐16). Results The mean age in years was 15.6 (SD 1.5) and 50.4% were females. The mean PQ‐16 score was 2.18 (SD 2.38) with 95% CI 2‐15‐2.21. A total of 2878 (30.5%) adolescents had no PLE symptoms while 990 (10.5%) had clinically significant PLE symptoms. The most experienced symptoms were “déjà vu” (35.5%) and loss of interest (29.6%). The variables independently associated with clinically significant PLE symptoms were “having no close friend in school” (OR 2.66, 95% CI 2.08‐3.41), “often beaten by parents” (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.67‐2.34) “from a polygamous family” (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.49‐2.18), and “diagnosis of depression” (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.09‐1.63). Conclusion We have shown that PLE symptoms are relatively common in non‐help seeking Nigerian school adolescents and that personal and family factors are significantly associated. Longitudinal studies will be needed to chart the path of symptoms and determinants of distress, help seeking and development of psychosis.