title: The relationship between psychotic symptoms and social functioning in a non-clinical population of 12year olds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychotic symptoms are common in adolescents in the general population but it is unknown whether they are associated with poor social functioning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether adolescent psychotic symptoms are associated with poor social functioning measured by peer relationships.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort was used. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between psychotic symptoms at 12.9years detected using a semi-structured interview and poor social functioning at 13.2years using parent-reported peer problems from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was strong evidence (p<0.001) of an unadjusted association between psychotic symptoms and poor social functioning (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.24-1.61). The association was attenuated after adjusting for earlier social functioning, socio-demographic variables, bullying status and IQ (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.09-1.50). The majority of the crude association was explained by additional adjustment for emotional problems including depression at age 12, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity and conduct problems at age 11 (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.89-1.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents with psychotic symptoms may be no more likely to have poor social functioning than other adolescents, once other emotional problems have been taken into account. The discussion addressed two explanations. First, emotional problems may be on the causal pathway from psychotic symptoms to poor social functioning. Alternatively, emotional symptoms may act as a confounder, suggesting that medical intervention may be inappropriate. It is the impact of psychotic symptoms on the individual that should dictate whether any intervention is required.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: laura.asher@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Asher
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zammit
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dorrington
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ALSPAC; Adolescence; Peer relationships; Psychosis; Social functioning