Severity of Psychotic-Like Experiences in Help-Seeking German Adolescents: An Exploration of Psychosocial Predictors and Psychological Treatment Outcomes

Introduction

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) occur transdiagnostically in young people and are linked to an increased risk of severe psychopathology in adulthood. However, the psychosocial factors influencing PLEs severity and their distribution across diagnoses remain under-researched. Updated knowledge of these aspects is crucial for clinical understanding and treatment. This study aims to expand existing research by investigating the prevalence and psychosocial factors associated with PLEs in help-seeking adolescents, examining differences in their severity across diagnoses and multimorbidity, and exploring preliminary changes following routine cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Methods

This observational, non-controlled study included 275 adolescents attending a routine mental health service for young people in Germany. Of the full sample, 161 participants completed a full course of CBT.

Results

At baseline, 87% reported at least one PLE, and 54.91% reported three or more. The most distressing experiences included thought broadcasting, paranoia, mind reading, and auditory hallucinations. The number of diagnoses did not affect PLEs severity, but the presence of self-reported childhood physical neglect and jumping to conclusions did. Among those who completed CBT, results showed reductions in PLEs severity over time across diagnostic groups.

Discussion

This study highlights the high prevalence of transdiagnostic PLEs in help-seeking adolescents. Among psychosocial predictors, trauma and cognitive biases were particularly relevant and should be addressed in psychotherapy. The observed improvements in PLEs severity following CBT, irrespective of the primary presenting problem, suggest promising avenues for transdiagnostic therapeutic strategies.