Frequent moving can increase risk for psychotic symptoms in adolescence

Children whose families move around a lot may face an increased risk of psychotic symptoms during adolescence, according to researchers at Warwick Medical School.

The study, published in American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, found that the risk of developing psychotic-like symptoms in early adolescence grows almost to 60 percent as a result of numerous school moves during childhood.

Suffering from psychotic-like symptoms at a young age is strongly associated with mental health problems in adulthood, including psychotic disorders and suicide, the researchers noted.

The study's leader, professor Swaran Singh, explained that such inconsistency can be especially problematic when mixed with 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," he said in a statement. "But additionally, being involved in bullying, sometimes as a consequence of repeated school moves, may exacerbate risk for the individual."

The study entailed interviewing 12-year-old participants to determine the presence of psychotic-like symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions and thought interference in the previous six months. Results showed that the kids who changed schools three or more times were 60 percent more likely to display at least one definite psychotic symptom.

The authors also suggested that moving schools often may lead to low self-esteem and a sense of social defeat in adolescents. The sense of being excluded from social situations could also cause physiological consequences leading to sensitization of the mesolimbic dopamine system, increasing the risk of psychotic-like symptoms in vulnerable individuals.

Dr. Cath Winsper, senior research fellow at Warwick Medical School, said knowing this is helpful when treating those with psychotic illnesses.

"It's clear that we need to keep school mobility in mind when clinically assessing young people with psychotic disorders. It should be explored as a matter of course as the impact can be both serious and potentially long lasting," she said. "Schools should develop strategies to help these students to establish themselves in their new environment."