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. 2013 Oct;150(1):169-75.
doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.07.001. Epub 2013 Jul 26.

Prevalence of bullying victimisation amongst first-episode psychosis patients and unaffected controls

Antonella Trotta  1 , Marta Di Forti, Valeria Mondelli, Paola Dazzan, Carmine Pariante, Anthony David, Alice Mulè, Laura Ferraro, Ivan Formica, Robin M Murray, Helen L Fisher
Affiliations

Prevalence of bullying victimisation amongst first-episode psychosis patients and unaffected controls

Antonella Trotta et al. Schizophr Res. 2013 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Despite increasing evidence suggesting that childhood maltreatment is significantly associated with psychosis, the specific role of bullying in the onset of psychotic disorders is still unclear. This study aimed to examine whether bullying was more prevalent amongst individuals presenting to services for the first time with a psychotic disorder than in unaffected community controls.

Methods: Data on exposure to bullying, psychotic symptoms, cannabis use and history of conduct disorder were collected cross-sectionally from 222 first-presentation psychosis cases and 215 geographically-matched controls. Bullying victimisation was assessed retrospectively as part of the Brief Life Events schedule. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between exposure to bullying and case-control status, while controlling for potential confounders.

Results: Psychosis cases were approximately twice as likely to report bullying victimisation when compared to controls. No significant interactions between bullying and either gender or cannabis use were found. Controls reporting being a victim of bullying were approximately twice as likely to also report at least one psychosis-like symptom.

Conclusions: Our results extend previous research by suggesting that bullying victimisation may contribute to vulnerability to develop a psychotic disorder in some individuals.

Keywords: Bullying; First episode; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Victimisation.

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