Psychosis in a pediatric mood and anxiety disorders clinic: phenomenology and correlates

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the demographics and phenomenology of psychosis in a sample of children and adolescents referred to a mood and anxiety disorders clinic.

Method: Patients (N = 2,031) were assessed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present Episode version and classified as definite, probable, or nonpsychotic. Clinical and demographic characteristics of the groups were compared,and symptoms of psychosis were analyzed using factor analysis.

Results: Definite psychotic symptoms were seen in approximately 90 (4.5%) patients: 80% of these reported hallucinations (mainly auditory), 22% delusions, and 3.3% thought disorder. Of the patients with definite psychotic symptoms, 24% had bipolar disorder, 41% had major depression, 21% had subsyndromal depression, and 14% had schizophrenia spectrum disorders (schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders). Factor analysis of the definite psychotic symptoms yielded 4 factors: hallucinations, thought disorder, delusions, and manic thought disorder. Psychotic patients had a higher frequency of comorbid disorders and suicidal ideation than nonpsychotic patients.

Conclusions: Outpatient youngsters with mood disorders frequently present with psychotic symptoms, in particular auditory hallucinations. These patients commonly have comorbid psychiatric disorders and suicidal ideation.