Half Of Youth Accessing Mental Health Services Have Symptoms Of Psychosis

About half of youth and young adults (ages 11 to 24) in Toronto, Ontario Canada who accessed mental health services had symptoms of psychosis that met the threshold for psychosis spectrum symptoms (PSS). PSS occurred more frequently in youth already experiencing another mental illness. Youth with PSS had poorer cognitive performance, poorer functioning, and suicidality.

The prevalence of PSS was discovered in a review of 417 youth who sought care at a large psychiatric hospital between May 4, 2021, and February 2, 2023. These youth met diagnostic criteria for an average of 3.5 psychiatric diagnoses, most frequently anxiety (affecting . . .