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Open Access 30-03-2024 | Suicide | Original Contribution

Positive psychotic symptoms as a marker of clinical severity in a transdiagnostic sample of help-seeking adolescents

Authors: Janko M. Kaeser, Stefan Lerch, Silvano Sele, Corinna Reichl, Julian Koenig, Ines Mürner-Lavanchy, Thomas Berger, Michael Kaess, Marialuisa Cavelti

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the association between the presence, number, and type of positive psychotic symptoms (PPS) and clinical severity in adolescent patients. Five hundred-six patients aged 11–17 years were assigned to either the noPPS (n = 341), the delusional beliefs only (del; n = 32), the hallucinations only (hall; n = 80), or the delusional beliefs and hallucinations (del&hall; n = 53) group. Generalized Structural Equation Modeling was applied to identify the best-fitting model representing clinical severity indicated by psychiatric diagnoses, depressivity, personality pathology, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide attempts, perceived stress, and psychosocial impairments, assessed by interviews and questionnaires. The groups were compared concerning the final model’s factors. The final model consisted of three factors representing psychopathology and functional impairments, self-harming behavior, and perceived stress (BIC difference to reference model: 103.99). Participants with any PPS scored higher on all factors than the noPPS group (differences in SD: 0.49–1.48). Additionally, the del&hall group scored 1.31 SD higher on psychopathology and functional impairments than the hall group, and 1.16 SD higher on self-harming behavior compared to the del group. Finally, the hall group scored 0.84 SD higher on self-harming behavior than the del group, with no group differences in the other factors. In adolescent patients, the presence of PPS may represent a marker for a more severe form of mental disorder, with hallucinations being indicative of self-harming behavior. Early transdiagnostic assessment of PPS seems indicated as it may inform treatment in the context of clinical staging.

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Title: Positive psychotic symptoms as a marker of clinical severity in a transdiagnostic sample of help-seeking adolescents
Authors: Janko M. Kaeser
Stefan Lerch
Silvano Sele
Corinna Reichl
Julian Koenig
Ines Mürner-Lavanchy
Thomas Berger
Michael Kaess
Marialuisa Cavelti
Publication date: 30-03-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Suicide
Suicide
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02417-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Positive psychotic symptoms as a marker of clinical severity in a transdiagnostic sample of help-seeking adolescents

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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