PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Childhood bullying shown to increase likelihood of psychotic experiences in later life

2013-12-17
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Luke Harrison
luke.harrison@warwick.ac.uk
University of Warwick
Childhood bullying shown to increase likelihood of psychotic experiences in later life New research has shown that being exposed to bullying during childhood will lead to an increased risk of psychotic experiences in adulthood, regardless of whether they are victims or perpetrators.

The study, published today in Psychological Medicine, assessed a cohort of UK children (ALSPAC) from birth to fully understand the extent of bullying on psychosis in later life – with some groups showing to be almost five times more likely to suffer from episodes at the age of 18.

The analysis, led by researchers from the University of Warwick, in association with colleagues at the University of Bristol, shows that victims, perpetrators and those who are both bullies and victims (bully-victims), are at an increased risk of developing psychotic experiences.

Even when controlling for external factors such as family factors or pre-existing behaviour problems, the study found that not only those children who were bullied over a number of years (chronic victims), but also the bullies themselves in primary school were up to four and a half times more likely to have suffered from psychotic experiences by the age of 18. Equally concerning is that those children who only experienced bullying for brief periods (e.g. at 8 or 10 years of age) were at increased risk for psychotic experiences.

The term 'psychotic experiences' covers a range of experiences, from hearing voices and seeing things that are not there to paranoia. These experiences, if persistent, are highly distressing and disruptive to everyday life. They are diagnosed by GPs or psychiatrists as "psychotic disorders" such as schizophrenia . Exact diagnosis is difficult and requires careful assessment as in this study.

Professor Dieter Wolke of the University of Warwick explained, "We want to eradicate the myth that bullying at a young age could be viewed as a harmless rite of passage that everyone goes through – it casts a long shadow over a person's life and can have serious consequences for mental health"

"These numbers show exactly how much childhood bullying can impact on psychosis in adult life. It strengthens on the evidence base that reducing bullying in childhood could substantially reduce mental health problems. The benefit to society would be huge, but of course, the greatest benefit would be to the individual."

When controlling for external factors such as family factors or pre-existing behaviour problems, the study found that not only those children who were bullied over a number of years (chronic victims), but also the bullies themselves in primary school were up to four and a half times more likely to have suffered from psychotic experiences by the age of 18. Equally concerning is that those children who only experienced bullying for brief periods (e.g. at 8 or 10 years of age) were at increased risk for psychotic experiences.

Wolke's team have previously looked at the impact of bullying on psychotic symptoms in 12 year olds, and there have been a range of short term studies that confirm the relation between being a victim of bullying and psychotic symptoms. This study, however, is the first to report the long term impact of being involved in bullying during childhood - whether victim, bully or bully-victim – on psychotic experiences in late adolescence or adulthood.

Professor Wolke added, "The results show that interventions against bullying should start early, in primary school, to prevent long term serious effects on children's mental health. This clearly isn't something that can wait until secondary school to be resolved; the damage may already have been done."

### Notes: For further information, a copy of the full paper, or to arrange interviews with Professor Wolke, contact Luke Harrison, Press Officer, on +44 (0) 2476 574255/150483 or +44 (0) 7920531221, or by email on luke.harrison@warwick.ac.uk

The cohort used was the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), popularly known as Children of the 90s, a birth cohort study based in South West England.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Research progress on photochemical transformation of organic sunscreens in natural waters

2013-12-17
Research progress on photochemical transformation of organic sunscreens in natural waters Organic sunscreens released from sea-bathing or wastewater discharges are emerging pollutants frequently detected in natural waters, and draw extensive concerns due to potential ...

Research backs risk-reduction surgery for ovarian cancer

2013-12-17
Research backs risk-reduction surgery for ovarian cancer A study by Manchester scientists backs preventative surgery to improve survival for women who are at greater risk of getting ovarian cancer and suggests it appears helpful for women at risk of ...

Neurons subtract images and use the differences

2013-12-17
Neurons subtract images and use the differences Primary cortex generates efficiently compressed sensory information Ten million bits – that's the information volume transmitted every second with every quick eye movement from the eye to the cerebrum. Researchers ...

Sharpening the focus in quantum photolithography

2013-12-17
Sharpening the focus in quantum photolithography A new protocol makes it possible to improve the accuracy of photolithography by addressing its physical limitations Photolithography uses light beams to design thin geometric patterns on the substrates of semiconductors ...

Use biologic agents to induce remission in patients with moderately severe Crohn's disease

2013-12-17
Use biologic agents to induce remission in patients with moderately severe Crohn's disease New American Gastroenterological Association guidelines provide guidance on most effective treatment pathway Bethesda, MD (Dec. 16, 2013) —The anti-TNF-α ...

Smoking changes our genes

2013-12-17
Smoking changes our genes The fact that smoking means a considerable health risk is nowadays commonly accepted. New research findings from Uppsala University and Uppsala Clinical Research Center show that smoking alters several genes that can be associated ...

AAOS approves AUC for non-arthroplasty treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee

2013-12-17
AAOS approves AUC for non-arthroplasty treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee New AUC offers clinical expertise across medical specialties to help optimize patient care ROSEMONT, Ill. – The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors ...

Uranium (IV) found to be mobile in a natural wetland

2013-12-17
Uranium (IV) found to be mobile in a natural wetland EPFL researchers studying a natural wetland near a decommissioned uranium mine in Limousin, France, have shown that under certain circumstances the uranium present in the wetland could be more mobile ...

Carsey Institute: Students with a disability more likely to be restrained, secluded in school

2013-12-17
Carsey Institute: Students with a disability more likely to be restrained, secluded in school DURHAM, N.H. – The restraint and seclusion of students in U.S. public schools in response to student behavior problems are used much more frequently on students with ...

Duration of diabetes and advancing age independently predict diabetes complications, risk of death

2013-12-17
Duration of diabetes and advancing age independently predict diabetes complications, risk of death The duration of diabetes and advancing age independently predict diabetes severity and risk of death in older adults with type 2 diabetes according to a study by the ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New College of AI, Cyber and Computing launched at UT San Antonio

Collaborative team earns five-year renewal grant from NINDS to continue stroke research

Vitamin K analogues may help transform the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Cyclic triaxial tests: Evaluation of liquefaction resistance in chemically treated soils

Uniting the light spectrum on a chip

Hundreds of new bacteria, and two potential antibiotics, found in soil

Smells deceive the brain – are interpreted as taste

New species survival commission fills critical gap in conservation

New conservation committee led by Applied Microbiology International calls on science community to get on board with microbial conservation

Scientists uncover key stabilizing role of small molecules

“Black Hole Stars” could solve JWST riddle of overly massive early galaxies

Mysterious ‘red dots’ in early universe may be ‘black hole star’ atmospheres

A gene mutation found in East Asian people increases liver disease risk by an ‘aldehyde storm’

Artificial intelligence‑assisted conductive hydrogel dressings for refractory wounds monitoring

Scalable fabrication of methylammonium‑free wide‑bandgap perovskite solar cells by blade coating in ambient air

Wearable devices could revolutionize pregnancy monitoring and detect abnormalities

Efficient cation recognition strategies for cationic compounds

US COVID-19 school closures were not cost-effective, but other non-pharmaceutical interventions were, new study finds

Human activities linked to declines of big seeds

North-south autism assessment divide leaves children waiting three years longer 

Want to publish in Nature? Webinar with Prof. Willie Peijnenburg shares insider tips

Cataract surgery on both eyes can be carried out safely and effectively in one go

Personalized brain stimulation shows benefit for depression

AI uncovers hidden rules of some of nature’s toughest protein bonds

Innovative approach helps new mothers get hepatitis C treatment

Identifying the Interactions That Drive Cell Migration in Brain Cancer

ORNL receives 2025 SAMPE Organizational Excellence Award

University of Oklahoma researchers aim to reduce indigenous cancer disparities

Study reveals new evidence, cost savings for common treatments for opioid use disorder in mothers and infants

Research alert: Frequent cannabis users show no driving impairment after two-day break

[Press-News.org] Childhood bullying shown to increase likelihood of psychotic experiences in later life