Background: Recent studies show that self-reported psychotic-like experiences in general population samples are quite common and on a continuum with psychotic symptoms in clinical samples. However, most evidence comes from western settings and there is a dearth of research in developing countries. Examination of these experiences across different cultures adds to their validity.
Aims: To assess psychotic-like ideations and its association with poor mental health in a group of young normal individuals in Iran.
Methods: A total of 150 medical students with no history of a psychiatric disorder completed the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory (PDI-40) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Psychotic-like ideations were rated on the basis of their presence, as well as their levels of distress, preoccupation and conviction (PDI sub-scores).
Results: On average, 9.4 psychotic-like ideations were reported by the subjects (range 0—28). More frequent psychotic-like ideations and higher distress and preoccupation associated with these ideations were correlated with poor mental health as assessed by the GHQ.
Conclusion: Frequency of psychotic-like ideation and its dimensions, as well as its association with poor mental health, were comparable to the studies on healthy subjects conducted in Europe.
Barnes, T.R., Hutton, S.B., Chapman, M.J., Mutsatsa, S., Puri, B.K. & Joyce, E.M. (2000) West London first-episode study of schizophrenia. Clinical correlates of duration of untreated psychosis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 177, 207-211.
2.
Goldberg, D.P. & Hillier, V.F. (1979) A scaled version of the General Health Questionnaire . Psychological Medicine, 9(1), 139-145.
3.
Hanssen, M., Bak, M., Bijl, R., Vollebergh, W. & van Os, J. (2005) The incidence and outcome of subclinical psychotic experiences in the general population. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(2), 181-191.
4.
Hanssen, M., Peeters, F., Krabbendam, L., Radstake, S., Verdoux, H. & van Os, J. (2003) How psychotic are individuals with non-psychotic disorders? Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology , 38(3), 149-154.
5.
Johns, L.C., Cannon, M., Singleton, N., Murray, R.M., Farrell, M., Brugha, T. et al. (2004) Prevalence and correlates of self-reported psychotic symptoms in theBritish population. British Journal of Psychiatry, 185, 298-305.
6.
Johns, L.C., & van Os, J. (2001) The continuity of psychotic experiences in the general population. Clinical Psychology Review, 21(8), 1125-1141.
7.
Krabbendam, L., Myin-Germeys, I., Hanssen, M., de Graaf, R., Vollebergh, W., Bak, M. et al. (2005) Development of depressed mood predicts onset of psychotic disorder in individuals who report hallucinatory experiences . British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(1), 113-125.
8.
Lundberg, P., Cantor-Graae, E., Kabakyenga, J., Rukundo, G. & Ostergren, P.O. (2004) Prevalence of delusional ideation in a district in southwestern Uganda. Schizophrenia Research, 71(1), 27-34.
9.
Mojtabai, R. (2006) Psychotic-like experiences and interpersonal violence in the general population. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 41(3), 183-190.
10.
Noorbala, A.A., Bagheri Yazdi, S.A., Yasamy, M.T. & Mohammad, K. (2004) Mental health survey of the adult population in Iran. British Journal of Psychiatry, 184, 70-73.
11.
Olfson, M., Lewis-Fernandez, R., Weissman, M.M., Feder, A., Gameroff, M.J., Pilowsky, D. et al. (2002) Psychotic symptoms in an urban general medicine practice. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159(8), 1412-1419.
12.
Peters, E., Day, S., McKenna, J. & Orbach, G. (1999) Delusional ideation in religious and psychotic populations. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38(1), 83-96.
13.
Peters, E.R., Joseph, S.A. & Garety, P.A. (1999) Measurement of delusional ideation in the normal population: introducing the PDI (Peters et al. Delusions Inventory). Schizophrenia Bulletin, 25(3), 553-576.
14.
Saha, S., Chant, D., Welham, J. & McGrath, J. (2005) A systematic review of the prevalence of schizophrenia . PLoS Medicine, 2(5), e141.
15.
van Os, J., Hanssen, M., Bijl, R.V. & Ravelli, A. (2000) Strauss (1969) revisited: a psychosis continuum in the general population?Schizophrenia Research, 45(1-2), 11-20.
16.
Verdoux, H., Liraud, F., Bergey, C., Assens, F., Abalan, F. & van Os, J. (2001) Is the association between duration of untreated psychosis and outcome confounded? A two-year follow-up study of first-admitted patients. Schizophrenia Research, 49(3), 231-241.
17.
Verdoux, H. & van Os, J. (2002) Psychotic symptoms in non-clinical populations and the continuum of psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 54(1-2), 59-65.
18.
Verdoux, H., van Os, J., Maurice-Tison, S., Gay, B., Salamon, R. & Bourgeois, M. (1998) Is early adulthood a critical developmental stage for psychosis proneness? A survey of delusional ideation in normal subjects . Schizophrenia Research, 29(3), 247-254.
19.
Verdoux, H., van Os, J., Maurice-Tison, S., Gay, B., Salamon, R. & Bourgeois, M.L. (1999) Increased occurrence of depression in psychosis-prone subjects: a follow-up study in primary care settings. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 40(6), 462-468.
20.
Wing, J., Nixon, J., von Cranach, M. & Strauss, A. (1977) Further developments of the `present state examination' and CATEGO system. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr, 224(2), 151-160.
