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Demographic correlates of psychotic‐like experiences in young Australian adults
Author(s) -
Scott J.,
Welham J.,
Martin G.,
Bor W.,
Najman J.,
O'Callaghan M.,
Williams G.,
Aird R.,
McGrath J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01214.x
Subject(s) - cidi , delusion , odds ratio , psychology , logistic regression , psychiatry , confidence interval , clinical psychology , psychosis , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , young adult , odds , medicine , demography , comorbidity , developmental psychology , national comorbidity survey , sociology
Objective: Psychotic‐like experiences (PLE) in the general community are common. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence and demographic correlates of PLE in young adults. Method: The sample consisted of 2441 subjects aged 18–23 years. Subjects completed the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and the 21‐item Peters Delusional Inventory (PDI). Associations between age, gender, hallucinations and delusions were examined using logistic regression. Results: Both CIDI hallucinations and delusions predicted high scores on the PDI. Younger age was significantly associated with endorsement of CIDI delusions [odds ratio (OR) = 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48–0.92) and with PDI total scores (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.55–0.83). Women were significantly more likely to endorse items related to hallucinations (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.14–1.95) but not delusions. Conclusion: PLE are common in young adults. The mechanisms underpinning the age and gender gradients in PLE may provide clues to the pathogenesis of psychotic disorders.