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Rimvall MK, Rask CU, Jensen JS, Olsen EM, Clemmensen L, Skovgaard AM, Verhulst F, van Os J, Jeppesen P. Exploring the interplay between psychotic experiences, functional somatic symptoms and health anxiety in childhood and adolescence - A longitudinal cohort study. Schizophr Res 2024; 267:322-329. [PMID: 38613863 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Similarities exist between contemporary explanatory models underlying psychosis development, functional somatic symptoms, and health anxiety. The current study aimed to examine the potential interplay between psychotic experiences (and alternate measures of anomalous self-experiences and aberrant attribution of salience) and functional somatic symptoms on the outcome of health anxiety in youths. METHODS In a prospective general-population birth cohort, the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000 (CCC2000), data from two time-points were available for 1122 individuals. We assessed the associations between psychotic experiences and functional somatic symptoms with health anxiety both cross-sectionally at ages 11- and 16-years, and longitudinally from age 11 to 16. Further, we examined if there was an interaction between these two domains on the outcome of health anxiety using the interaction contrast ratio. RESULTS Functional somatic symptoms and psychotic experiences were strongly cross-sectionally associated with health anxiety at both ages 11 and 16, even after adjustment for general psychopathology. In the longitudinal analyses, functional somatic symptoms, and psychotic experiences at age 11 were not individually associated with health anxiety at age 16 but having both functional somatic symptoms and psychotic experiences was: odds ratio 3.90, 95%CI 1.7-8.9, with suggestion of evidence for interaction beyond the additive effects. This association was attenuated after adjustment for general psychopathology: odds ratio 2.6, 95 % CI 1.0-6.4. CONCLUSION The strong associations between the domains support the idea of possible overlapping mechanisms underlying psychotic experiences, functional somatic symptoms, and health anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Køster Rimvall
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital - Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Charlotte Ulrikka Rask
- Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Research Unit, Aarhus, Denmark; Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens Søndergaard Jensen
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Else Marie Olsen
- Psychiatric Center Ballerup, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, the Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Lars Clemmensen
- VIRTU Research Group, Copenhagen Research Center on Mental Health (CORE), Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Skovgaard
- National Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frank Verhulst
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital - Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Child Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jim van Os
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, King's Health Partners, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - Pia Jeppesen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital - Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Rask CU, Duholm CS, Poulsen CM, Rimvall MK, Wright KD. Annual Research Review: Health anxiety in children and adolescents-developmental aspects and cross-generational influences. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:413-430. [PMID: 37909255 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Health anxiety involves excessive worries about one's health along with beliefs one has an illness or may contract a serious disease. Concerning evidence suggests that health anxiety is on the rise in society, possibly further fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent classification systems acknowledge that impairing health-related worries and beliefs can emerge in early childhood with significant levels of symptoms persisting throughout childhood, and possibly continuous with diagnostic considerations in adulthood. This narrative review summarizes recent research advances in health anxiety in children and adolescents, focusing on various developmental aspects of health anxiety and related concepts in youths. Findings suggest that health anxiety symptoms in young age groups are associated with impairment, distress, and increased healthcare use, as well as substantial comorbidity with mainly other emotional problems and disorders. Furthermore, longitudinal studies suggest that childhood health anxiety can persist across adolescence, perhaps with links to chronic courses in adulthood. The growing literature was further reviewed, thus extending our understanding of early risk factors, including the potential role of exposure to serious illness and transgenerational transmission of health anxiety. Learning more about developmental trajectories will be highly relevant to inform strategies for early detection and prevention. While modified cognitive behavioral therapies in adults are successful in treating health anxiety, specific interventions have not yet been tested in youths. Given substantial overlaps with other psychopathology, it could be important to develop and explore more transdiagnostic and scalable approaches that take advantage of common factors in psychotherapy, while also including a wider perspective on potential familiar maladaptive illness cognitions and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Ulrikka Rask
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Steen Duholm
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Martin Køster Rimvall
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital - Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristi D Wright
- Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
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Simon AE, Keller P, Cattapan K. Commentary about social avoidance and its significance in adolescents and young adults. Psychiatry Res 2021; 297:113718. [PMID: 33465524 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Social avoidance in young patients is a clinically worrisome phenomenon that characterizes impending schizophrenia, but that also constitutes a core phenomenon in avoidant personality disorder (AvPD), schizoid personality disorder (ScPD), and in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Especially in the absence of any other clinically relevant phenomena, understanding the origins of social avoidance may be one the most challenging tasks in assessing whether adolescents and young adults are at risk for developing schizophrenia. Descriptive and psychometric assessments only allow to comment on the absence or the presence of this phenomenon, but do not capture the origins and the meaning of social avoidance. Based on a narrative review, we highlight the importance of a phenomenological approach to unveil the Gestalt of social avoidance in these mental disorders, including and appraisal of the underlying mental structures and attachment styles. The phenomenological approach allows to distinguish the Gestalt of social avoidance between AvPD, ScPD, ASD, and beginning schizophrenia, to ensure correct diagnostic labelling and optimal treatment, and to avoid unwarranted stigmatization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andor E Simon
- University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Specialized Early Psychosis Outpatient Service for Adolescents and Young Adults, Department of Psychiatry, Binningen, Switzerland.
| | - Petra Keller
- University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katja Cattapan
- University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Sanatorium Kilchberg/Zuerich, Private Hospital of Psychiatry, Kilchberg, Switzerland
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Rask CU, Gehrt TB, Rimvall MK, Frostholm L. Health Anxiety. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PSYCHOLOGIE-JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1027/2151-2604/a000407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Health anxiety, characterized by excessive concern about one’s health, is a serious and costly public health problem. The disorder might become chronic if left untreated. Unfortunately many patients do not receive timely or proper treatment due to sparse treatment resources. Also, existing treatment programs, though effective for many, do not work for all. This paper discusses the conceptualization of health anxiety and future directions based on novel research findings. These include: (i) the content and characteristics of autobiographical memories and episodic future thoughts in severe health anxiety, (ii) related concepts such as cyberchondria with excessive Internet browsing on health issues and health anxiety by proxy, where parents display and might confer health anxiety towards their children, (iii) an epidemiological perspective on the association between health anxiety and subclinical psychotic experiences in preadolescence. Exploring these new dimensions could have important implications for the further development of preventive strategies and effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte U. Rask
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tine B. Gehrt
- Center on Autobiographical Memory Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Martin K. Rimvall
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth Frostholm
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Rimvall MK, Jespersen CP, Clemmensen L, Munkholm A, Skovgaard AM, Verhulst F, van Os J, Rask CU, Jeppesen P. Psychotic experiences are associated with health anxiety and functional somatic symptoms in preadolescence. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019; 60:524-532. [PMID: 30289180 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health anxiety (HA) is an increasing public health problem related to increased health service costs, and associated with functional somatic symptoms (FSS) and considerable personal suffering. Abnormal bodily experiences which may resemble HA and FSS are common in psychotic disorders, but a potential link between HA and psychosis vulnerability in childhood is largely unexplored. The current study estimates the association between subclinical psychotic experiences (PE) and HA and FSS in a general population cohort of preadolescents. METHODS The study population consisted of 1,572 11-12-year-old children from the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000. PE were comprehensibly assessed as either present or not present using the Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia psychosis section. HA and FSS were assessed by self-report on validated questionnaires. Additional variables on general psychopathology, puberty, and chronic somatic illness were also obtained. RESULTS Psychotic experiences were associated with the top 10% high scores of HA (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.2; 95% CI: 2.1-4.8) and FSS (OR 4.6; 95% CI: 3.1-6.9) in univariate analyses. After mutual adjustment, the association was reduced to (HA: OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5-3.5; FSS: OR 3.7; 95% CI: 2.4-4.7), suggesting interdependence. Further adjustment for potential confounders and general psychopathology only reduced the associations slightly: HA OR 2.2 (95% CI: 1.4-3.4); FSS OR 3.3 (95% CI: 2.1-5.2). Secondary analyses of subdimensions of HA showed that PE were associated with fears (OR 3.0; 95% CI: 2.0-4.6) and daily impact of HA symptoms (OR 5.0; 95% CI: 3.4-7.5), but not help seeking (OR 1.2; 95% CI: 0.7-2.1). CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to investigate the associations between PE and HA and FSS, respectively. PE were significantly associated with HA and FSS over and above general psychopathology in preadolescence. Individuals with PE expressed high levels of health-related fears and daily impact, but no corresponding help-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin K Rimvall
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cecilia Pihl Jespersen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Research Unit, Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Clemmensen
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Anja Munkholm
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Skovgaard
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Frank Verhulst
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jim van Os
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, King's Health Partners, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Ulrikka Rask
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Research Unit, Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Pia Jeppesen
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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