Diagnostic outcome of self-reported hallucinations in a community sample of adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to assess the diagnostic outcome of self-reported hallucinations in adolescents from the general population.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 914 adolescents between ages 11-18 participating in an ongoing longitudinal study. The participation rate from the original sample was 70%. Responses on the Youth Self-Report questionnaire were used to ascertain hallucinations in adolescents. Eight years later, Axis 1 DSM-IV diagnoses were assessed using the 12-month version Composite International Diagnostic Interview in 783 (86%) of 914 study subjects. No subjects were diagnosed with schizophreniform disorders or schizophrenia.


RESULTS
Hallucinations were reported by 6% of adolescents and 3% of young adults. Self-reported hallucinations were associated with concurrent non-psychotic psychiatric problems in both age groups. Adolescents who reported auditory, but not visual, hallucinations, had higher rates of depressive disorders and substance use disorders, but not psychotic disorders, at follow-up, compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported auditory hallucinations in adolescents are markers of concurrent and future psychiatric impairment due to non-psychotic Axis 1 disorders and possibly Axis 2 disorders. It cannot be excluded that there was selective attrition of children and adolescents who developed Schizophrenic or other psychotic disorders later in life.
Dhossche
D
D
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sophia's Children Hospital/Erasmus University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Ferdinand
R
R
Van der Ende
J
J
Hofstra
M B
MB
Verhulst
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012494:Sampling Studies