A Study on Psychotic Disorders

A recent study has looked at the incidences of psychotic disorders and found that they increased by 60% in those aged 14 to 20 years old. So, the question is why? What has been causing this increase?

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairments, typically emerging in early adulthood. Individuals living with a psychotic disorder often have comorbidities and are at a higher risk of premature death than those without the condition. 

Currently, about 1% of people in Canada and 0.45% of the adult global population have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Although genetic predisposition is a key risk factor for psychotic disorders, other environmental and social factors — including air pollution, urbanization, perinatal health, early-life exposures such as adverse childhood experiences, and substance use — are thought to play a role in its development. 

Incidence of psychotic disorders by birth cohort: a population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada: Canadian Medical Association

Recently CBC spoke to the co-author of the above article, Dr. Marco Solmi about his findings, and some of the possible reasons behind it. They also spoke with psychiatrist Dr. Oyedeji Ayonrinde on why early intervention matters, and why cannabis use can’t be ignored as a potential factor in this rise.

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