Spontaneous discontinuation of distressing auditory verbal hallucinations in a school-based sample of adolescents: a longitudinal study.

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) can be transiently present in both clinical and healthy adolescent populations. It is not yet fully understood why AVH discontinue in some adolescents and persist in others. The aim of this explorative study is to investigate predictors of spontaneous discontinuation of distressing AVH in a school-based sample of adolescents. 1841 adolescents (mean age 12.4 years, 58% female) completed self-report questionnaires at baseline. The current study included 123 adolescents (7%; 63% female) who reported at least mild distressing AVH at baseline and completed follow-up measurements. LASSO analyses were used to uncover predictors of spontaneous discontinuation of distressing AVH. During follow-up, 43 adolescents (35%) reported having experienced distressing AVH during the last 12 months, while 80 adolescents did not. Spontaneous discontinuation of distressing AVH was predicted by never having used cannabis, parents not being divorced in the past year, never having been scared by seeing a deceased body, less prosocial behaviour, school grade repetition, having the feeling that others have it in for you, having anxiety when meeting new people, having lived through events exactly as if they happened before and having the feeling as if parts of the body have changed. No associations between spontaneous discontinuation of distressing AVH and age or ethnicity were found. Distressing AVH in non-clinical adolescents are mostly transient. Discontinuation was predicted up to a certain extent. However, several predictors were difficult to interpret and do not provide leads for preventive measures, except for discouraging cannabis use.

Correction to: Spontaneous discontinuation of distressing auditory verbal hallucinations in a school­based sample of adolescents: a longitudinal study.

In the Original Publication Table 2 was incorrectly published. The correct table is given below.

Psychotic experiences among ethnic majority and minority adolescents and the role of discrimination and ethnic identity.

PURPOSE: Research shows that the prevalence of psychiatric problems is higher in ethnic minority youth compared to native youth. This school-based screening study of early adolescents' mental health in the Netherlands examined differences in prevalence of psychotic experiences in ethnic minority youth compared to their Dutch peers. Moreover, we investigated the association between psychotic experiences, ethnic identity, and perceived discrimination. METHODS: A cohort of 1194 ethnic majority and minority adolescents (mean age 13.72, SD 0.63) filled-out questionnaires on psychotic experiences (including delusional and hallucinatory experiences), perceived group and personal discrimination, and ethnic identity. RESULTS: Apart from lower levels of hallucinatory experiences in Turkish-Dutch adolescents, prevalence of psychotic experiences did not differ between ethnic minority and majority adolescents. Perceived personal discrimination was associated with the presence of psychotic experiences (including delusional and hallucinatory experiences) (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.22-4.34). This association was stronger for delusional experiences (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.43-6.06) than for hallucinatory experiences (OR 1.65, 95% CI 0.73-3.72). No significant associations were found between perceived group discrimination and psychotic experiences. A weak ethnic identity was associated with higher risk for reporting psychotic experiences (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.14-3.66), particularly hallucinatory experiences (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.54-6.44). When looking at specific ethnic identity categories, marginalization, compared to separation, was associated with a threefold risk for reporting psychotic experiences (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.33-8.03). Both marginalisation (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.04-9.63) and assimilation (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.30-8.13) were associated with a higher risk for hallucinatory experiences. CONCLUSIONS: These results underline the protective effect of ethnic identity against mental health problems. Future research should focus on interventions that focus on strengthen social identity.

Transdiagnostic school-based intervention for adolescents with early persistent psychiatric symptoms: An initial single-group effect study.

AIM: Mental health intervention programs for adolescents generally focus on specific symptoms, such as anxiety or depression. Psychiatric symptoms in adolescence are often heterogeneous, transient and shift over time. These characteristics require a transdiagnostic approach with emphasis on positive psychological development. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of Mastermind, a novel transdiagnostic intervention targeting general underlying mechanisms of psychiatric symptoms in adolescents. METHODS: Adolescents were screened for psychiatric symptoms with the Strengths and Difficulties Scale in a school-based program in two consecutive years. Adolescents were eligible for the intervention when they had psychiatric symptoms at both screening assessments. Participants received an 8 weeks program containing elements of empowerment and attention bias modification. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed before the start of the intervention, immediately after the intervention and at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 241 adolescents were eligible for the intervention, of whom 80 participated (mean age 12.5 years). Generalized Estimating Equations, adjusted for gender and educational level, showed a decrease of negative attention bias, psychotic, anxiety, depression and behavioural symptoms immediately after intervention. The effects remained at follow-up. Overall risk for psychiatric disorders, distress and low self-esteem had decreased at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A simple two-step school-based screening can identify adolescents with persistent psychiatric symptoms. The Mastermind transdiagnostic group intervention may be effective to reduce psychiatric symptoms, enhance self-esteem and lower the risk for developing psychiatric disorders.

Peer status in relation to psychotic experiences and psychosocial problems in adolescents: a longitudinal school-based study.

Social exclusion is related to many adverse mental health outcomes and may be particularly harmful for mental health in adolescence when peer relations become very important. This study examined associations between low peer status and psychotic experiences, psychosocial problems and short-term courses of these symptoms. A school-based sample of adolescents (N = 1171) was investigated in 2 consecutive years using the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire and the self-report and teacher-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Peer status was measured in the second year with positive and negative peer nominations of classmates. Low peer status was, after adjusting for gender, ethnic minority status and level of education, associated with more psychosocial difficulties with a persistent course and a higher level of psychotic experiences. Of all peer status groups, being neglected had the strongest associations with mental health problems. The results of this study show that social exclusion in adolescence is related to psychotic experiences and psychosocial problems, emphasizing the importance of belonging to a social group. Customized prevention programs at individual, family and school level should target causes and consequences of social exclusion.