الظواهر شبه الذهانية

Abstract EN

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are a set of abnormal mental experiences, which do not reach the clinical threshold of psychosis and are experienced by otherwise healthy people.

They are similar to psychotic symptoms, but less severe, less frequent and less persistent.

They are not necessarily associated with distress, functional impairment and/or help-seeking behavior.

PLEs are commonly allied with positive psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Less frequently, they also include experiences related to negative psychotic symptoms and to depressive symptoms.

Recent studies have estimated the prevalence of PLEs in the adult general population to be 5-6%.

This prevalence is reportedly higher in children and adolescents.

PLEs are usually transient and tend to disappear over time, particularly during adolescence.

They are experienced only once or a few times in two thirds of the cases and disappear within two years in 60- 70% of cases during adolescence.

However, PLEs seem to be associated in a small percentage of cases with an increased risk of adverse long-term outcomes, including psychotic and nonpsychotic mental health disorders, and suicidal behavior, particularly in the presence of additional genetic, environmental and/or psychological risk factors.

The presence of PLEs, nonetheless, is not a necessary or sufficient condition for the later development of a psychotic disorder or other mental health disorders.