Psychotic experiences are associated with health anxiety and functional somatic symptoms in preadolescence
Rimvall, Martin K.; Jespersen, Cecilia Pihl; Clemmensen, Lars; Munkholm, Anja; Skovgaard, Anne Mette; Verhulst, Frank; van Os, Jim; Rask, Charlotte Ulrikka; Jeppesen, Pia
(2019) Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, volume 60, issue 5, pp. 524 - 532
(Article)
Abstract
Background: Health anxiety (HA) is an increasing public health problem related to increased health service costs, and associated with functional somatic symptoms (FSS) and considerable personal suffering. Abnormal bodily experiences which may resemble HA and FSS are common in psychotic disorders, but a potential link between HA and psychosis vulnerability
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in childhood is largely unexplored. The current study estimates the association between subclinical psychotic experiences (PE) and HA and FSS in a general population cohort of preadolescents. Methods: The study population consisted of 1,572 11–12-year-old children from the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000. PE were comprehensibly assessed as either present or not present using the Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia psychosis section. HA and FSS were assessed by self-report on validated questionnaires. Additional variables on general psychopathology, puberty, and chronic somatic illness were also obtained. Results: Psychotic experiences were associated with the top 10% high scores of HA (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.2; 95% CI: 2.1–4.8) and FSS (OR 4.6; 95% CI: 3.1–6.9) in univariate analyses. After mutual adjustment, the association was reduced to (HA: OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5–3.5; FSS: OR 3.7; 95% CI: 2.4–4.7), suggesting interdependence. Further adjustment for potential confounders and general psychopathology only reduced the associations slightly: HA OR 2.2 (95% CI: 1.4–3.4); FSS OR 3.3 (95% CI: 2.1–5.2). Secondary analyses of subdimensions of HA showed that PE were associated with fears (OR 3.0; 95% CI: 2.0–4.6) and daily impact of HA symptoms (OR 5.0; 95% CI: 3.4–7.5), but not help seeking (OR 1.2; 95% CI: 0.7–2.1). Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate the associations between PE and HA and FSS, respectively. PE were significantly associated with HA and FSS over and above general psychopathology in preadolescence. Individuals with PE expressed high levels of health-related fears and daily impact, but no corresponding help-seeking behavior.
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Keywords: Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology, Attitude to Health, Child, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Denmark, Female, Humans, Male, Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology, Somatoform Disorders/epidemiology, Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Psychiatry and Mental health, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
ISSN: 0021-9630
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Note: Funding Information: Anne Dorothee Mu€ller M.Sc.Psych. and Maja Greger-sen, M.Sc. Psych contributed to the recruitment and assessment of the children. Funding for the current project: Grants from the Danish Foundation TrygFon-den (J. nr. 7-10-0189 and 7-11-0341); the Lundbeck-fonden (J. nr. R54-A5843). Funding Information: Anne Dorothee M?ller M.Sc.Psych. and Maja Gregersen, M.Sc. Psych contributed to the recruitment and assessment of the children. Funding for the current project: Grants from the Danish Foundation TrygFonden (J. nr. 7-10-0189 and 7-11-0341); the Lundbeckfonden (J. nr. R54-A5843). F.V. publishes the Dutch translations of ASEBA materials from which he receives remuneration. The remaining authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
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