Persistent Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety and Risk for Psychosis: A Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Persistent anxiety in childhood and adolescence could represent a novel treatment target for psychosis, potentially targeting activation of stress pathways and secondary nonresolving inflammatory response. Here, we examined the association between persistent anxiety through childhood and adolescence with individuals with psychotic experiences (PEs) or who met criteria for psychotic disorder (PD) at age 24 years. We also investigated whether C-reactive protein mediated any association.

METHODS

Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were available in 8242 children at age 8 years, 7658 at age 10 years, 6906 at age 13 years, and 3889 at age 24 years. The Development and Well-Being Assessment was administered to capture child and adolescent anxiety. We created a composite score of generalized anxiety at ages 8, 10, and 13. PEs and PD were assessed at age 24, derived from the Psychosis-like Symptoms Interview. The mean of C-reactive protein at ages 9 and 15 years was used as a mediator.

RESULTS

Individuals with persistent high levels of anxiety were more likely to develop PEs (odds ratio 2.02, 95% CI 1.26-3.23, p = .003) and PD at age 24 (odds ratio 4.23, 95% CI 2.27-7.88, p < .001). The mean of C-reactive protein at ages 9 and 15 mediated the associations of persistent anxiety with PEs (bias-corrected estimate -0.001, p = .013) and PD (bias-corrected estimate 0.001, p = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent high levels of anxiety through childhood and adolescence could be a risk factor for psychosis. Persistent anxiety is potentially related to subsequent psychosis via activation of stress hormones and nonresolving inflammation. These results contribute to the potential for preventive interventions in psychosis, with the novel target of early anxiety.

Validity and Reliability of the Staden Schizophrenia Anxiety Rating Scale

In schizophrenia, none of the standard anxiety measures exhibit strong psychometric properties, and all performed poorly against quality assessment criteria. Developed for the schizophrenia population, this study examined the validity and reliability of the Staden Schizophrenia Anxiety Rating Scale (S-SARS) that measures both specified and undifferentiated anxiety. Among 353 schizophrenia patients, strong correlations with anxiety parameters supported the S-SARS's convergent validity. Criterion-related validity testing yielded accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity rates of around 95%. Its discriminant validity was observed for measures of depression, psychosis, akathisia, fatigue, vigour, procrastination, behavioural inhibition and activation, and personal growth and initiative. Structural validity was found in a single-factor unidimensional model with a 0.953 factor score. Excellent results were found for internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.931; Spearman-Brown coefficient = 0.937; Guttman split-half coefficient = 0.928) and inter-rater reliability (Krippendorff's alpha = 0.852). It incurred no more than a small error of measurement whereby the observed scores were within 1.54 to 3.58 of a true score on a zero to 50 scale. These strong psychometric properties suggest that the S-SARS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring specified and undifferentiated anxiety in schizophrenia, providing the means for the accurate measurement of anxiolytic treatment effects.

Testing the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Staden schizophrenia anxiety rating scale

Accurate assessment of anxiety disorders and their symptomatology in schizophrenic patients is important for prognosis and treatment. Measuring anxiety on the traditional anxiety assessment scales such as the Hamilton Anxiety Rating (HAMA) Scale or the self-rating depression scale (SAS) is challenging and often considered unsuitable for assessing anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The Staden schizophrenia anxiety rating scale (S-SARS) has been shown to reliably measure specified and undifferentiated anxiety in schizophrenia. The present study aims to test the reliability and validity of the S-SARS version, thereby facilitating Chinese psychiatrists in assessing anxiety symptoms in schizophrenic patients. A total of 300 patients meeting ICD-10 diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia were recruited by convenience sampling. We used the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to evaluate the structural validity of S-SARS and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to acquire the cutoff point of S-SARS to define the severity of anxiety. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's and Krippendorff's α scores. 1-week test-retest reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Correlation analysis with HAMA was used to determine the Chinese version of S-SARS criterion validity. We have the following results: Our version of S-SARS showed Cronbach's α score as 0.899, Krippendorff's α as 0.874, and a correlation coefficient of 0.852 between S-SARS and HAMA. The EPA demonstrated that the contribution rate of major factors was 69.45%. All the items of S-SARS were located in one factor and showed a high factor load (0.415-0.837). The correlation coefficient of S-SARS and HAMA was 0.852. Our results indicated that Chinese version of S-SARS showed good constructive validity and reliability. It also showed better criterion validity compared to HAMA. The S-SARS and its Chinese version can thus serve as an effective tool for assessing anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their co-occurrence among people living with schizophrenia in China: Prevalence and correlates

BACKGROUND

The current study examines the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, their occurrence, and key socio-demographic and clinical correlates among people living with schizophrenia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 390 schizophrenia individuals. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, patient symptoms, functioning, and disability were assessed using standard assessment tools.

RESULTS

People living with schizophrenia had a prevalence of 40.51% for depressive symptoms, 29.74% for anxiety symptoms, and 26.41% for their co-occurrence. More symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04-1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.10) and higher disability (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03-1.09) were associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their co-occurrence. In addition, having middle school or high school education (OR: 2.48-2.61, 95% CI: 1.15-5.53), and being unemployed (OR: 4.98-9.08, 95% CI: 1.09-69.87) were associated with increased risk for anxiety symptoms and its co-occurrence with depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive and anxiety symptoms are relatively common. Interventions should carefully assess these symptoms to distinguish them from schizophrenia to target them in the treatment.

Association of health-risk behaviors and depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms: a school-based sample of Chinese adolescents

Background Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms of adolescents not only affect youth but also have wide-ranging impacts on the health of adults. The study was carried out to determine the epidemiological characteristics of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms and the associations between the two and health-risk behaviors in Chinese adolescents. Methods Participants were recruited from the junior and senior high schools in China. Data were collected by self-designed questionnaires. The questionnaires included questions about demographic characteristics, depressive symptom scales, anxiety symptom scales and nine categories of health-risk behaviors. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were performed by SPSS 21.0 software. Results There were 4.4% of the participants with depressive symptoms. Approximately 32.0% of the participants had anxiety symptoms. Girls and general senior school students were risk factors for depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Multiple health-risk behaviors were associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms in Chinese adolescents. Conclusion Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were prevalent in Chinese adolescents. Their distribution was affected by certain health-risk behaviors. Multiple health-risk behaviors were associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms in Chinese adolescents.

Candidate Factors Maintaining Social Anxiety in the Context of Psychotic Experiences: A Systematic Review

Social anxiety is common in psychosis and associated with impaired functioning, poorer quality of life, and higher symptom severity. This study systematically reviewed factors maintaining social anxiety in people with attenuated, transient, or persistent psychotic experiences. Other correlates of social anxiety were also examined. MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO were searched for relevant literature up to October 19, 2020. Forty-eight articles were eligible for narrative synthesis: 38 cross-sectional studies, 8 prospective studies, 1 uncontrolled trial, and 1 qualitative study. From 12060 participants, the majority was general population (n = 8771), followed by psychosis samples (n = 2532) and those at high risk of psychosis (n = 757). The methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Ninety percent of studies were rated as high to very-high quality. Poorer quality studies typically failed to adequately control for confounds and provided insufficient information on the measurement validity and reliability. Prominent psychological factors maintaining social anxiety included self-perceptions of stigma and shame. Common correlates of social anxiety included poorer functioning and lower quality of life. In conclusion, stigma and shame could be targeted as a causal mechanism in future interventional studies. The integration of findings from this review lead us to propose a new theoretical model to guide future intervention research.

Impact of changes in social anxiety on social functioning and quality of life in outpatients with schizophrenia: A naturalistic longitudinal study

The prevalence of comorbid social anxiety disorder among patients with schizophrenia is currently attracting attention, and symptoms of social anxiety are reportedly associated with various clinical features. However, the contribution of social anxiety to social functioning and quality of life (QOL) over time remains obscure. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of changes in social anxiety symptoms on social functioning and QOL among outpatients with schizophrenia. Of the 207 outpatients who were eligible at baseline, 118 patients agreed with and completed a follow-up investigation at least 1 year (695.8 days on average) after the baseline study. Stepwise multiple regressions examining the change in social functioning using demographic data and changes in clinical variables as explanatory variables demonstrated that the changes in social anxiety and general psychopathology contributed to the change in the Social Functioning Scale, while the changes in clinical severity and negative symptoms contributed to the change in the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. Stepwise multiple regressions for the change in QOL demonstrated that the changes in social anxiety and depression contributed to the change in the World Health Organization QOL scale, Brief version, and the changes in social anxiety and positive symptoms contributed to the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptic Drug Treatment, Short Form. The results revealed that the changes in social anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with the change in functional outcome among patients with schizophrenia. Treatments targeting social anxiety seem to be key to achieving a full recovery in patients with schizophrenia.

Discerning undifferentiated anxiety from syndromal anxiety in acute-phase schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Literature on anxiety in schizophrenia is confined to well-established diagnostic syndromes and the diagnostic category of unspecified anxiety disorder has not been quantitatively verified in this population. This study examined whether anxiety that is not differentiated into the well-established syndromes is empirically discernible from syndromal anxiety and no anxiety in acute-phase schizophrenia.

METHODS

After sampling 111 acute-phase schizophrenia patients, they were stratified into three groups: syndromal anxiety; undifferentiated anxiety; and without anxiety disorder. The groups were compared statistically in two data sets on measures for anxiety, psychotic severity, depressive features, akathisia and medication use.

RESULTS

On two measures of anxiety and for both data sets, the groups were significantly different without evidence of a confounding influence by akathisia, medication, or psychotic severity. The undifferentiated group was different from the syndromal group on the Staden Schizophrenia Anxiety Rating Scale (S-SARS) for both data sets (mean difference = 7.46, p < 0.001; mean difference = 7.69, p < 0.002) and on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale for the one data set (mean difference = 14.68, p < 0.001) but not for the replicative data set (mean difference = 1.49, p = 0.494). The undifferentiated anxiety group was different from the no anxiety group for the respective data sets on both anxiety scales (S-SARS: mean difference = 8.67, p < 0.001; mean difference = 8.64, p < 0.001)(HAM-A: mean difference = 6.05, p < 0.001; mean difference = 8.67, p = 0.002). When depressive features had a confounding effect, it was small relative to the group differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest some patients in acute-phase schizophrenia present with undifferentiated anxiety that is discernible from both syndromal anxiety and those without an anxiety disorder. This finding may serve as empirical grounds for clinicians to recognise undifferentiated anxiety in acute-phase schizophrenia, and for further research into the clinical importance of undifferentiated anxiety in this population.

Social anxiety and negative symptoms as the characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who show competence-performance discrepancy in social functioning

AIM

Although competence and performance in relation to social functioning usually go hand in hand, it is not uncommon to observe a discrepancy between the two in patients with schizophrenia. The present study was aimed at examining the characteristics of patient groups showing such discrepancy.

METHODS

A total of 205 outpatients with schizophrenia aged ≤40 years old were enrolled. The symptomatology and social functioning were widely assessed. The patients were divided into four groups by the cut-off scores for competence and performance in relation to social functioning calculated using a comprehensive dataset.

RESULTS

The subjects were divided according to their level of competence and performance as follows: high competence and high performance (CP) group, 108 (52.7%) patients; high competence, but low performance (Cp) group, 40 (19.5%) patients; low competence, but high performance (cP) group, 13 (6.3%) patients; low competence and low performance (cp) group, 44 (21.5%) patients. One-way analysis of variance and post-hoc comparisons revealed significantly worse negative symptoms, general psychopathology scores, global functioning, and quality of life in the Cp group than in the CP group, and significantly better social anxiety symptoms, global functioning, and quality of life in the cP group than in the cp group.

CONCLUSION

In patients who are capable, but do not perform well, negative symptoms may be involved in the discrepancy. Patients who are able to maintain themselves well despite low social competence appear to have milder social anxiety symptoms as compared to patients who are neither competent nor perform well.

Prevalence rate of social anxiety disorder in individuals with a psychotic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterised as an excessive fear of negative judgment from others and is considered one of the most disabling of the mental ill health conditions. Research findings indicate that it is also a significant issue for individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, with prevalence rates of social anxiety ranging from 8% to 36%. This study was conducted to address the variance of the reported prevalence rates of comorbid SAD amongst individuals with a psychotic disorder diagnosis. Via a systematic review, we collated all available literature on the prevalence of SAD in individuals with a psychotic disorder, and evaluated the prevalence results via meta-analysis. We also synthesised all psychosocial outcomes attributed to SAD comorbidity and conducted a narrative review of the relevant findings. Across 25 studies providing data from 1980 to May 2018 and spanning 13 countries (N = 92,522), we found a pooled prevalence rate of 21% (16%-26%). In outpatient samples, (17 studies), the prevalence was 25% (19%-31%), statistically significantly higher (z = 5.12, p < .001) than that of the inpatient studies six studies, which was 9% (7%-12%). We also found that SAD comorbidity is associated with increased depression, poorer social function, poorer subjective quality of life, greater negative self-evaluation, and greater insight. The results from this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that SAD is prevalent amongst individuals with a psychotic disorder. More consistent screening for SAD and the development of theoretically driven and empirically supported tailored treatments are recommended.

An Experimental Investigation into the Effect of State-Anxiety on State-Paranoia in People Experiencing Psychosis

BACKGROUND

There is strong evidence to suggest that anxiety is associated with paranoia in clinical and non-clinical samples. However, no research to date has directly manipulated anxiety to investigate if state-anxiety has a causal role in state-paranoia in clinical populations.

AIMS

To investigate whether an anxious-mood induction leads to greater paranoia than a neutral-mood induction in people experiencing psychosis and paranoia and, if so, whether this is predicted by anxiety over and above other variables.

METHOD

22 participants with a psychosis-spectrum diagnosis took part in a two condition cross-over experimental design. Participants underwent a neutral-mood and an anxious-mood induction with levels of state-anxiety, state-affect and state-paranoia being measured before and after each condition.

RESULTS

State-paranoia was significantly higher after the anxious condition compared with the neutral condition. State-anxiety and negative-affect were significant predictors of levels of state-paranoia after the anxious condition. When both predictors were included in a regression model, only negative-affect was a significant predictor of state-paranoia after the anxious condition. There were a number of methodological limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

State-anxiety and negative-affect may both be involved in the maintenance of paranoia in clinical populations, as predicted by cognitive models. Negative-affect may be the strongest predictor of state-paranoia in clinical populations. Reasons for this are discussed, as well as the implications. Interventions that seek to reduce negative state-affect may be beneficial in managing state-paranoia. Further research is warranted to explore the suggested clinical and theoretical implications of these findings.

Social anxiety and risk factors in patients with schizophrenia: Relationship with duration of untreated psychosis

Social anxiety is commonly reported as a comorbid condition among people with schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to elucidate the associations between demographic/clinical features and social anxiety. A total of 207 outpatients with schizophrenia underwent assessments for social anxiety, psychiatric symptoms, social cognition, cognitive function, social functioning, and quality of life (QOL). To confirm the prediction model for social anxiety, we conducted multiple linear regressions using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score as an outcome variable and demographic/clinical variables as predictors. Of the 207 patients, 30 (14.5%) met the criteria for social anxiety disorder and 109 (52.7%) had a mean LSAS score higher than 30, suggesting that their social anxiety symptoms had reached a clinical level. Social anxiety was significantly correlated with psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, and QOL, whereas significant correlations with social cognition and cognitive function were not observed. A multiple regression analysis identified social functioning, gender, age of onset, and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) as predictors that were most closely associated with the LSAS score. We confirmed that social anxiety symptoms were highly prevalent among outpatients with schizophrenia and were closely associated with social functioning and DUP, rather than social cognitive impairments.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and overall psychopathology in psychotic disorders: longitudinal assessment of patients and siblings

The course of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and its association with alterations in other clinical variables in patients with psychotic disorders is insufficiently known. Patients (n = 602) and unaffected siblings (n = 652) from the Dutch Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis (GROUP) study were investigated at baseline and after 3 years. Participants were assigned to four groups based on the course of OCS over time: no-OCS, persistent OCS, initial OCS and de novo OCS. In addition to cross-sectional comparisons, longitudinal associations between changes in OCS and symptoms of schizophrenia and general functioning were investigated. Patients with co-occurring OCS reported significantly higher severity of psychotic and affective symptoms as well as lower overall functioning compared to patients without OCS. These differences were stable over time for patients reporting persistent OCS. Subsequent repeated measure analysis revealed significant interaction effects for groups reporting changes in their OCS. Whereas the group with remission of initial OCS showed significant improvement in positive symptoms, emotional distress and functioning, the de novo group showed no significant change in these variables, but rather reported stable higher psychopathology. Similar results were found on a subclinical level in siblings. Patients with co-occurring OCS present a more severe clinical picture, especially if symptoms persist over time. The remission of OCS was associated with overall improvement, whereas individuals with de novo OCS already reported higher clinical impairment before OCS onset. More research is needed to elucidate causal pathways and to develop effective interventions for persistent comorbid OCS.

Childhood adversities and clinical symptomatology in first-episode psychosis

In addition to severe traumatic experiences, milder, more common childhood adversities reflecting psychosocial burden may also be common in people with psychotic disorders and have an effect on symptomatology and functioning. We explored eleven negative childhood experiences and their influence on clinical symptoms among young adults with first-episode psychosis (FEP, n = 75) and matched population controls (n = 51). Individuals with FEP reported more adversities than controls. Specifically serious conflicts within the family, bullying at school, maternal mental health problems, and one's own and parents' serious illness during childhood were experienced by the patients more often than by controls. In the FEP group, the severity of adversity was associated with increased anxiety, manic, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, but not with the severity of positive psychotic symptoms. Adversity produced a more pronounced effect on symptoms in male patients than in female patients. To conclude, in line with earlier studies of more chronic psychosis, a majority of the participants with FEP reported exposure to childhood adversities, with the FEP group reporting more adversities than controls. High levels of mood and anxiety symptoms in patients with FEP may be related to cumulative exposure to childhood adversities. This should be taken into account in the treatment for FEP.

Schizophrenia dissection by five anxiety and depressive subtype comorbidities: Clinical implications and evolutionary perspective

Twenty patients with DSM5 schizophrenia were comprehensively and formally assessed by an experienced psychiatrist. All subjects were assessed for: positive and negative psychotic symptoms; social anxiety; panic anxiety; obsessive compulsive disorder, atypical depression; major depression; suicide risk; and global assessment of functioning. Different profiles of clinical presentation and symptom evolution emerged for patients with schizophrenia who had co-morbid depression (15%), OCD (15%), panic or limited symptom attacks (55%) and social anxiety (5%). At least eighty percent of the sample had one or more of these co-morbidities. Summing up, the data support our previous finding that panic is highly prevalent in Schizophrenia with Auditory Hallucinations (>73% here, versus 100% before), and panic was paroxysmally concurrent with voice onset. Moreover, characteristic clinical findings may help point clinicians to five specific co-morbidity psychosis subtypes. Moreover, co-morbidity dissection of psychotic diagnoses recalls and parallels the historical psychopharmacologic dissection of non-psychotic anxiety and depressive subtypes diagnoses. Larger studies should further test and explore these preliminary findings.

Responding to challenges for people with psychotic illness: Updated evidence from the Survey of High Impact Psychosis

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to summarise recent findings from the 2010 Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP) and examine their implications for future policy and planning to improve mental health, physical health and other circumstances of people with a psychotic disorder.

METHODS

Survey of High Impact Psychosis collected nationally representative data on 1825 people with psychotic illness. Over 60 papers have been published covering key challenges reported by participants: financial problems, loneliness and social isolation, unemployment, poor physical health, uncontrolled symptoms of mental illness, and lack of stable, suitable housing. Findings are summarised under the rubric of participant-ranked top challenges.

RESULTS

The main income source for the majority (85%) of participants was a government benefit. Only one-third was employed, and the most appropriate employment services for this group were under-utilised. High rates of loneliness and social isolation impacted mental and physical health. The rate of cardiometabolic disease was well above the general population rate, and associated risk factors were present from a very young age. Childhood abuse (30.6%), adult violent victimisation (16.4%) and alcohol and substance abuse/dependence (lifetime rates of 50.5% and 54.5%, respectively) complicated the clinical profile. Treatment with medication was suboptimal, with physical health conditions undertreated, a high rate of psychotropic polypharmacy and underutilisation of clozapine in chronic persistent psychotic illness. Only 38.6% received evidence-based psychosocial therapies. In the previous year, 27.4% had changed housing and 12.8% had been homeless, on average for 155 days.

CONCLUSION

Money, social engagement and employment are the most important challenges for people with psychotic illness, as well as good physical and mental health. An integrated approach to recovery is needed to optimise service delivery and augment evidence-based clinical practice with measures to improve physical health and social circumstances. Meeting these challenges has the potential to reduce costs to government and society, as well as promote recovery.