Correlates of psychotic like experiences (ple) during pandemic: do sars-cov-2 infection increase the vulnerability for ple among adolescents?

Creative Commons License

Yılmaz Kafalı H. Y., Turan S., Akkaya S., Mutlu M., Özkaya Parlakay A. N., Çöp E., ...More

12. Uluslararası Psikofarmakoloji Kongresi & 8.Uluslararası Çocuk ve Ergen Psikofarmakolojisi Sempozyumu, Antalya, Turkey, 17 - 20 November 2021, pp.80, (Full Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: Antalya
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.80
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND AIM:To investigate whether the SARS-CoV-2 infection increased the risk of psychotic-like experiences (PLE) among adolescents. Secondly, we aimed to examine which variables (SARS-CoV-2 infection, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, cigarette, alcohol, drug usage) contribute to PLE during pandemic among adolescents. METHODS:Altogether, 684 adolescents aged 12-18 (SARS-CoV-2 group: n=361, mean age=15.41.9, 54.8% girls, control group (CG): n=323, mean age: 15.71.2, 47.4% girls) were recruited. The SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction test. The positive dimension of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences-42 (CAPE-42-Pos), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were completed by all volunteers using an online survey. For the SARS-CoV-2 group, C-reactive Protein and hemogram values, and SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms during the acute infection period were noted. RESULTS: CAPE-Pos-frequency and CAPE-Pos-Stress scores were significantly higher, whereas GAD-Total and PSQI-Total scores were significantly lower in the SARS-CoV-2 group than the CG. Among the SARS-CoV-2 group, monocyte count and the number of SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms were significantly positively correlated with CAPE-Pos-frequency and CAPE-Pos-Stress scores. Among whole participants, SARS-CoV-2 infection, cigarette usage, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 scores significantly contributed to PLE in often or nearly always frequency. CONCLUSIONS:This study is the first to show a relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and PLE among adolescents. Furthermore, monocyte count and the number of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms during acute infection period, which can show the severity of the illness, were associated with PLE frequency. Among the whole group, besides SARS-CoV-2 infection, depression, anxiety, and cigarette usage contributed to PLE during pandemic. Keywords: Covid19, Pandemic, Psychotic, PLE, Adolescents