Bullying Mediates Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Childhood and Psychotic Experiences in Early Adolescence

Effects of the interaction between PTSD and ADHD symptoms on the level of reporting psychotic-like experiences: findings from a non-clinical population

Objective

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are increasingly being recognized as subclinical phenomena that might predict the development of various mental disorders that are not limited to the psychosis spectrum. Accumulating evidence suggests that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid mental disorders. However, their interactive effect on the occurrence of PLEs has not been investigated so far. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of interaction between ADHD and PTSD symptoms on the level of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in the non-clinical sample.

Methods

The study included 3,000 individuals aged 18-35 years with a negative history of psychiatric treatment. The symptoms of ADHD and PTSD were assessed using self-reports.

Results

There was a significant association of the interaction between ADHD and PTSD with the level of reporting PLEs. This association remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, the level of education, the current vocational situation, lifetime history of problematic substance use, and depressive symptoms. Post-hoc tests demonstrated significantly higher levels of reporting PLEs in participants with positive screening for both ADHD and PTSD compared to other subgroups of participants. Also, individuals with positive screening for one vulnerability (either ADHD or PTSD) reported significantly higher levels of reporting PLEs compared to those with a negative screening for ADHD and PTSD. In turn, no significant differences between individuals reporting one vulnerability, i.e., between those with positive screening for ADHD and those with positive screening for PTSD, were observed.

Conclusion

Findings from the present study imply that both PTSD and ADHD symptoms the interaction effect on the level of reporting PLEs that might be of importance for early intervention strategies. However, observed associations require replication in clinical samples.

The role of dieting, happiness with appearance, self-esteem, and bullying in the relationship between mental health and body-mass index among UK adolescents: a longitudinal analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study

Background

Mental illness and obesity are among the biggest challenges to population health, they are linked, and may be modifiable during adolescence. We aimed to determine intervening pathways between mental health and BMI z-score symptoms across adolescence.

Methods

In this longitudinal cohort study, we used path models to examine self-reported dieting, happiness with appearance, self-esteem and bullying at 14 years as potential mediators of the cross-lagged relationship between mental health (via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) and Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score at 11 and 17 years by sex in the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a prospective cohort study of 18,818 children born in the UK between September 1st, 2000, and January 31st, 2002. Full, incomplete data on all singleton children still participating in the study by age 11 years were analysed in GSEM via maximum likelihood estimation (N = 12,450).

Findings

We found happiness with appearance and self-esteem, but not dieting or bullying, mediated the relationship between BMI age 11 and mental health age 17. Each increase in BMI z-score at 11 years was associated with 0.12 increase for boys and a 0.19 increase for girls in scores of unhappiness with appearance (boys: b 0.12, 95% C.I.; girls b 0.19, C.I. 0.14 to 0.23) and a 16% increase for boys and a 22% increase for girls in odds of low self-esteem (boys OR 1.16, 95% C.I. 1.07 to 1.26; girls: OR 1.22, 95% C.I. 1.15 to 1.30) at 14 years. In turn, for both boys and girls, being unhappy with appearance and low self-esteem at 14 years were associated with a greater likelihood of emotional and externalizing symptoms at 17 years.

Interpretation

Early prevention strategies to encourage healthy physical and mental development of children need to focus on the promotion of positive body-mage and self-esteem.

Funding

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (SPHR).

Aggressive behaviors and associated factors in Chinese left-behind adolescents: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

To examine whether the levels of aggressive behaviors and other individual and contextual variables differ between left-behind adolescents (LBA) and not left-behind adolescents (NLBA) and explore associations between aggression and other constructs among them.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted and 4530 school adolescents aged 9-18 years in north and south of China were randomly selected. The levels of aggressive behavior, personality and family and classroom environment were compared between LBA and NLBA and also the associated factors of aggression.

RESULTS

The total scores of aggressive behaviors were 6.33 ± 6.35 (Mean ± SD) in LBA and 5.78 ± 6.16 (Mean ± SD) in NLBA. Multiple linear regression models revealed that neuroticism and psychoticism were positively associated with aggressive behaviors for LBA with similar results of NLBA. Cohesion was negatively associated with aggressive behaviors, and conflict and achievement had positive effects in NLBA. Organization had a negative effect in LBA. Uncertainty and dissatisfaction had positive effects on aggression both in LBA and NLBA.

CONCLUSION

This study found a slightly higher level of aggressive behaviors in LBA comparing with NLBA. Personality was the mainly associated factor of aggression, but class-based interventions were more practical for aggressive behaviors in Chinese LBA.

Social Anxiety in Victimization and Perpetration of Cyberbullying and Traditional Bullying in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying are prevalent among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aims of this study were to examine the role of social anxiety in victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying in adolescents with ASD and ADHD in Taiwan. A total of 219 adolescents with ASD and 287 adolescents with ADHD aged 11–18 years and their caregivers were recruited from the child psychiatry outpatient clinics into this study. The associations of social anxiety with victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying and traditional bullying were examined using logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that after the effects of sex, age, and autistic social impairment were controlled, social anxiety increased the risk of being a victim of cyberbullying (Odds Ratios (OR) = 1.048; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.013–1.084), a victim of traditional bullying (OR = 1.066; 95% CI: 1.036–1.097), and a perpetrator of traditional bullying (OR = 1.061; 95% CI: 1.027–1.096) in adolescents with ASD. After the effects of sex, age, and ADHD symptoms were controlled for, social anxiety increased the risk of being a victim of traditional bullying in adolescents with ADHD (OR = 1.067; 95% CI: 1.039–1.096). Social anxiety was significantly associated with several forms of bullying involvement in adolescents with ASD and ADHD and warrants being considered into prevention and intervention programs for bullying involvement.

Relationships between internet use, deliberate self-harm, and happiness in adolescents: A Taiwan birth cohort pilot study

The potential risk of internet use on adolescents' self-harm is a major concern. Vulnerable adolescents who are susceptible to bullying are also susceptible to the negative influence of the internet. In this study, the pathway associations were investigated between the risk factors of deliberate self-harm, experience of being bullied, internet use, and protective factors of maternal monitoring on perceived happiness of 12- and 13-year-old adolescents in the Taiwan Birth Cohort Pilot Study dataset (n = 1,457). The Chinese Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was used to measure the adolescents' self-perceived levels of happiness, in two dimensions of social adaptation status and psychological well-being. Our results show that 354 (24.3%) of the 12-year-olds reported having been bullied, and 289 (19.8%) of the 13-year-olds reported this. Seventy-nine (5.4%) of 13-year-olds reported deliberate self-harm in the past year. Results of a structural equation model showed that those who had been bullied at age 12 years were at greater risk of deliberate self-harm at age 13 years. A negative association was found between duration of internet use and perceived level of happiness. Adolescents who spent >5 h online during days off school were at higher risk of deliberate self-harm, and perceived a lower level of happiness. Therefore, spending >5 h online during days off school could be used as an indicator in future preventive action programs to screen out those at a high risk of excessive internet use, deliberate self-harm, and psychological well-being and social adjustment issues.

Correlations between Quality of Life, School Bullying, and Suicide in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Although adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a higher risk of suicidality and more problems related to school bullying, and quality of life (QoL) is reportedly associated with school bullying, suicide, and ADHD, no study has examined their correlation. This study examined the complex relationships between QoL, school bullying, suicide, and ADHD symptoms. A total of 203 adolescents with ADHD aged between 12 and 18 years were recruited. School bullying and QoL were examined using the Chinese version of the School Bullying Experience Questionnaire and the Taiwanese Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adolescents. Network model analysis was conducted to graphically present their relationships. We identified triangular correlations between school bullying, QoL, and suicidality, indicating possible pathways from school bullying to suicidality, and the originating or mediating roles of personal competence and psychological well-being. Furthermore, the ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity may differentially regulate these pathways. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Bullying and psychotic symptoms in youth with bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma is associated with psychosis in adults with bipolar disorder (BD). Although bullying represents a widespread form of childhood trauma, no studies thus far have investigated the association of bullying and psychosis in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). We aim to examine the association between psychosis in PBD with bullying victimization.

METHODS

We included 64 children and adolescents (age± mean= 12±3.43) outpatients with BD spectrum disorders. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed with the semi- structured interview Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime (KSADS-PL) version with additional depression and manic symptom items derived from the Washington University in St. Louis Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders (WASH-U-KSADS). Bullying, demographic, and clinical variables were assessed during the clinical interview.

RESULTS

A lifetime history of psychotic symptoms was associated with bullying (p = 0.002), suicidal behavior (p = 0.006), low socioeconomic status (p = 0.04), and severity of PBD (p = 0.02). Only bullying (OR = 7.3; 95%CI = 2-32) and suicidal behavior (OR = 7.6; 95%CI = 1.5-47.8) remained significant after adjustment for confounders. In a supplementary analysis, we developed a model using supervised machine learning to identify the most relevant variables that differentiated participants with psychotic symptoms, which included bullying, Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S), and suicidal behavior (accuracy = 75%, [p = 0.03]; sensitivity = 77.91%; specificity = 69.05%; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.86).

LIMITATIONS

Small sample, cross-sectional design, and generalizability of findings beyond the outpatient clinical sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings underscore the importance of assessing bullying in PBD participants. Future longitudinal studies with larger samples are needed to replicate our findings and determine causality.

Friendship Quality and Gender Differences in Association With Cyberbullying Involvement and Psychological Well-Being

Current literature has documented the detrimental effects of cyberbullying which include a range of internalizing and externalizing problems for those involved. Although critical, this research can sometimes ignore social-ecological aspects of a child's life that can potentially 'buffer' the negative psychological effects of such involvement. With this in mind, this cross-sectional investigation of 12-16 year olds [M(SD): 13.5(1) years] in Ireland focused on the role of friendship quality and gender in association with cyberbullying involvement and psychological well-being (N = 2410). The Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Scale was used to measure cyber perpetration and victimization. A modified version of the Cambridge Friendship Questionnaire was included to investigate peer friendship quality. Finally, the Moods and Feeling Questionnaire and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were chosen to provide a measurement of psychological well-being. Prevalence rates for various types of cyberbullying roles (cyber bullies, victims and bully/victims) are presented, as well as differences for psychological well-being, friendship quality and cyberbullying involvement. In addition, regression models were used to determine the associations between gender, age, friendship quality and involvement in cyberbullying with psychological well-being. The results are considered in terms of the current literature and directions for future research are suggested.

Bullying victimisation and psychosis: The interdependence and independence of risk trajectories

A number of studies have noted an association between being the victim of bullying and psychotic symptoms. We offer an overview of the topic, focusing especially on a developmental perspective. We highlight the results of the latest studies on psychosis across the continuum and its relationship with bullying. Then we summarise the three main explanatory models investigated: developmental, biological and cognitive. We recommend that bullying in psychosis requires careful study of the developmental trajectories involved, and that research should now focus on how personal, social and biological factors interact.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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