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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Published in:

01-09-2013 | Original Paper

A model of psychosis and its relationship with impairment

Authors: Katherine G. Jonas, Kristian E. Markon

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2013

Abstract

Purpose

Some studies suggest that positive symptoms of psychosis—clinical and sub-clinical alike—reflect a single, continuously distributed dimension in the population. It is unknown, however, whether such a spectrum of positive psychotic experiences is non-linearly related to outcomes such as daily functioning. This work aims to characterize the relationship between positive psychosis and impairment.

Methods

Data from the Office of National Statistics National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys of Great Britain were used to establish measurement models of psychosis and impairment. Competing linear and nonlinear models of the relationship between the two latent variables were evaluated using mixture structural equation models.

Results

Positive psychosis is best modeled by a continuous, normal distribution. Increases in positive psychosis correlate with roughly linear increases in impairment.

Conclusions

Positive psychotic symptoms occur throughout the population without a discrete, pathological threshold. Functional deficits are linearly associated with the psychosis at all points along the continuum, and a significant portion of the population experiences subclinical psychosis.

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Title: A model of psychosis and its relationship with impairment
Authors: Katherine G. Jonas
Kristian E. Markon
Publication date: 01-09-2013
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2013
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0642-2

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

A model of psychosis and its relationship with impairment

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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