Classes of Psychotic Experiences in Kenyan Children and Adolescents
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev.
Abstract
Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have been observed worldwide in both adults and children
outside the context of a clinical disorder. In the current study, we investigate the prevalence and
patterns of PLEs among children and adolescents in Kenya. Among 1,971 students from primary
and secondary schools around Nairobi (aged 8–19), 22.1 % reported a lifetime history of a
psychotic experience, and 16.3 % reported this unrelated to sleep or drugs. Psychotic experiences
were more common in males compared to females. LCA resulted in a three-class model comprised
of a normative class (83.3 %), a predominately hallucinatory class (Type 1 psychosis: 9.6 %), and
a pan-psychotic class (Type 2 psychosis: 7.2 %). These results indicate that PLEs are prevalent in
children and adolescents, and the distributions of symptom clusters are similar to that found in
adulthood. The relationship of specific PLEs to the future development of psychotic disorder,
functional impairment or distress will require further study.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Psychosis, Children, Adolescents, Kenya, Africa,
Citation
Mamah DO., Owoso A., Mbwayo, A W., Mutiso VN ., kiMuriungi, S K., Khasakhala L I., Barch DM., Ndetei DM. Classes of Psychotic Experiences in Kenyan Children and Adolescents., 2013., Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2013 June ; 44(3) p.452–459. doi:10.1007/s10578-012-0339-5.