Peer-reviewed article
T29. CHILDHOOD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY ACROSS 12 YEARS PREDICTS ADULT PSYCHOTIC-LIKE EXPERIENCES: A PARALLEL TWO-PART PIECEWISE LATENT GROWTH CURVE MODEL
Ka-Yee Wong K, Francesconi M, Flouri E ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study followed children from age 4 to 18 years to understand how early behavior problems predict psychotic-like experiences in adulthood. The research found that internalizing behaviors (like anxiety and withdrawal) in early childhood, particularly during primary school years, were the strongest predictors of later psychotic experiences. The study used a more sophisticated statistical approach that tracks changes during two distinct developmental periods rather than assuming constant linear change. Girls were more likely than boys to experience psychotic-like symptoms by age 18.
Key points
- Internalizing symptoms at baseline in early childhood (ages 4-9) significantly predicted adult psychotic-like experiences (b = .130, p = .004)
- Changes in internalizing symptoms during early childhood were the strongest predictor of adult psychotic-like experiences (b = .196, p < .001)
- Changes in adolescent symptoms did not significantly predict adult psychotic-like experiences
- A two-part piecewise growth model better fit the data than a standard linear growth model, suggesting distinct developmental patterns in early childhood versus adolescence
- Females were significantly more likely than males to be in the definite/suspected psychotic-like experiences group at 18 years
Limitations
The study relies on parent-reported child behavior rather than direct clinical assessment during childhood, which may not capture all relevant symptoms. The findings are from a single UK cohort study, so generalizability to other populations and countries is uncertain.
Abstract
Abstract Background The prevalence of childhood psychopathology fluctuates across the lifespan, yet studies often adopt linear growth curve models (LGM) of estimation that assumes constant linear growth and do not account for the comorbidity between internalizing and externalizing behaviors in predicting later psychosis. This study tests whether internalizing and externalizing behaviors in early childhood (4–9 years) and adolescence (11–16 years) are best modelled by a two-part parallel piecewise growth model (2-PGM) or a single LGM (4–16 years) and whether specific developmental periods better predict psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in adulthood (18 years). Methods Parent-rated child’s psychopathology on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 2006) at ages 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 16 years from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were first modelled by a parallel LGM, then a 2-PGM, to predict clinician-rated adult PLEs. Models were re-run controlling for confounds assessed prior to age 4 years (i.e., child’s gender, verbal IQ, socioeconomic status, maternal education, prior diagnosis of mental health issues, and stressful life experiences at 42 months). Results Considering internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors in tandem, a 2-PGM fit the data better than a LGM (CFI/TLI = .97/.96, 2(129) = 781.63, p < .001, RMSEA = .033, 90%CI[.031-.035], WRMR = 1.32, N = 4717). Controlling for confounds, internalizing symptoms at baseline (b = .130, p = .004) and changes (b = .196, p < .001) in early childhood best predicted adult PLEs, but not changes in adolescent internalizing/externalizing symptoms. Females were more likely than males to be in the definite/suspected PLEs group at 18 years (b = .078, p = .006). Findings suggest that maternal reports of internalizing problem behaviors, particularly in primary school years, provide predictive utility of clinician-assessed PLEs. Discussion Using a 2-PGM technique may better identify important developmental windows of assessment and intervention for PLEs than LGM. Findings have important theoretical and practical implications for mental health research.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Longitudinal tracking and assessment of internalizing and externalizing behaviors using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at ages 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, and 16 years
- Population
- 4,717 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, followed from ages 4-18 years
Key finding
Internalizing symptoms at baseline in early childhood (ages 4-9) predicted adult psychotic-like experiences (b = .130, p = .004)