Frequent change of schools during childhood tied to increased risk of psychotic symptoms

A recent study by researchers at Warwick Medical School linked school mobility to increased chances of developing psychotic symptoms during adolescence.

Psychosis is the underlying cause for many mental health problems; children developing psychotic symptoms may suffer from behavioral disorders, dissociative schizophrenia and severe depression. According to the researchers, rapid shifts in schools may lead to lower self esteem in children and increased bullying.

"Changing schools can be very stressful for students. Our study found that the process of moving schools may itself increase the risk of psychotic symptoms - independent of other factors," Swaran Singh, who led the study, said in a press release. "But additionally, being involved in bullying, sometimes as a consequence of repeated school moves, may exacerbate risk for the individual."

The researchers surveyed 6,448 mothers and their children, who were born between 1991 and 1992. The children were interviewed at the age of 12 and were questioned on how frequently they suffered from psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions and thought interference in last six months.

Based on their results, the researchers concluded that frequent shifts in schools may give rise to a sense of defeat in children and can even lead to sensitization of the mesolimbic dopamine system, aggravating their chances of developing psychotic symptoms.

"It's clear that we need to keep school mobility in mind when clinically assessing young people with psychotic disorders," said Cath Winsper, co-author of the study, in a statement. "It should be explored as a matter of course as the impact can be both serious and potentially long lasting."

Winsper added: "Schools should develop strategies to help these students to establish themselves in their new environment."