The Interplay between Intelligence, Psychotic-Like  Experiences and Psychopathology in Adolescents

Background: Psychotic like experiences (PLE) play a role in the development of psychotic disorders. However, less is known about the clinicopathological significance of PLE for the development of nonpsychotic disorders. The current study examined the association of PLE with non-psychotic disorders in adolescents. Secondly, I proposed that this association between PLE and non-psychotic disorders would be moderated by intelligence. The aim of this study is to gain a broader understanding of the development of disorders and to give foundation for interventions concerned with early detection and prevention. Methods: A sample (N=430) of Dutch adolescents aged 13- to 18-year-olds were recruited as part of the iBerry prospective cohort study. The current study is a cross-sectional observational study based on its baseline data. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire (PQ-16) regarding PLE and were subjected to an intelligence test (SON) and a structured interview (MINI) to...Show moreBackground: Psychotic like experiences (PLE) play a role in the development of psychotic disorders. However, less is known about the clinicopathological significance of PLE for the development of nonpsychotic disorders. The current study examined the association of PLE with non-psychotic disorders in adolescents. Secondly, I proposed that this association between PLE and non-psychotic disorders would be moderated by intelligence. The aim of this study is to gain a broader understanding of the development of disorders and to give foundation for interventions concerned with early detection and prevention. Methods: A sample (N=430) of Dutch adolescents aged 13- to 18-year-olds were recruited as part of the iBerry prospective cohort study. The current study is a cross-sectional observational study based on its baseline data. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire (PQ-16) regarding PLE and were subjected to an intelligence test (SON) and a structured interview (MINI) to assess psychiatric disorders. Using logistic regression analysis and moderation analysis I investigated associations between PLE, the presence of non-psychotic disorders and intelligence. Results: The logistic regression model was statistically significant (χ2 (8) = 25.337, p = .001) and explained 15.3% of the variance in non-psychotic disorders. The control variables age, gender and educational level were also taken into account in the analysis. PLE was the only significant predictor (p < .001) and provided an odds ratio of 5.00 (95% CI = 2.16 - 11.56). Because of this wide confidence interval this effect can be considered small to big. The proposed moderating effect of intelligence on the association between PLE and non-psychotic disorders could not be found (p = .179) in the current sample. Conclusions: The results support a model of psychological vulnerability in which subclinical psychiatric symptoms could be indicative for non-specific psychiatric disorders. Further research is indicated to better understand the underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance of PLE in relation to transition to clearly defined psychiatric disorders. Research is also indicated to explore the possible protective role of intelligence in this transition.Show less

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The Interplay between Intelligence, Psychotic-Like Experiences and Psychopathology in Adolescents