Psychotic-like ideations among a group of young normal subjects in Iran.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies show that self-reported psychotic-like experiences in general population samples are quite common and on a continuum with psychotic symptoms in clinical samples. However, most evidence comes from western settings and there is a dearth of research in developing countries. Examination of these experiences across different cultures adds to their validity.


OBJECTIVE
To assess psychotic-like ideations and its association with poor mental health in a group of young normal individuals in Iran.


METHODS
A total of 150 medical students with no history of a psychiatric disorder completed the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory (PDI-40) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Psychotic-like ideations were rated on the basis of their presence, as well as their levels of distress, preoccupation and conviction (PDI sub-scores).


RESULTS
On average, 9.4 psychotic-like ideations were reported by the subjects (range 0-28). More frequent psychotic-like ideations and higher distress and preoccupation associated with these ideations were correlated with poor mental health as assessed by the GHQ.


CONCLUSIONS
Frequency of psychotic-like ideation and its dimensions, as well as its association with poor mental health, were comparable to the studies on healthy subjects conducted in Europe.
Sharifi
Vandad
V
Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. vsharifi@sina.tums.ac.ir
Sajjadifar
Ali
A
Amini
Homayoun
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires