Social and clinical correlates of the persistence of psychotic experiences in the general population

Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that sub-threshold psychotic experiences commonly occur in the general population. When these experiences persist over time, they may increase risk for psychotic disorder or lead to other clinical or functional impairments. The aims of this study were to distinguish the relative importance of sociodemographic factors and clinical factors, including characteristics of the psychotic experiences themselves, in determining the course of psychotic symptoms over time. Participants were drawn from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys. We tested for retrospectively-reported predictors of current psychotic experiences among individuals who reported lifetime psychotic experiences, with onset prior to the past year (n = 921), using logistic regression. Persistence was primarily related to demographic variables, with lower odds associated with being married and having at least a college education. Individuals reporting prior to the past year auditory hallucinations were more likely to have persistent psychotic experiences than those reporting other types of psychotic experiences. Interventions aiming at strengthening family support and social skills may reduce the likelihood of persistence among individuals with psychotic experiences, thereby reducing risk for psychotic disorders and other related outcomes. Future studies should continue to identify predictors of persistence versus remission and further explore clinical services for those with persistent psychotic experiences.