Citation

Adjorlolo S, Anum A. Int. J. Adolesc. Youth 2021; 26(1): 307-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, A B Academic Publishers)

DOI

10.1080/02673843.2021.1933110

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have attracted increased scholarly attention; however, there are limited empirical studies in Africa where environmental risk factors for psychosis such as maltreatment are highly prevalent. The study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of PLEs, as well as the association between PLEs and behavioural maladies among adolescents in Ghana. Data were collected from 553 adolescents (girls = 322, 58.1%) using a cross-sectional survey design. The prevalence of the positive PLEs ranges from 3.8% to 41.2, whereas, for negative PLE, the prevalence ranges from 4.9% to 13%. The PLEs dimensions were significantly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as suicidal tendency. Cluster analysis identified three groups of participants: normative, low risk and high risk for psychosis. The psychosis risk groups significantly reported more PLEs and behavioural maladies, compared with the normative group. This preliminary study suggests that psychosis risk symptoms are prevalent in adolescents in Ghana. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; suicide; Ghana; depression; Psychosis; anxiety; Africa