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Prevalence and risk factors of psychotic symptoms: in the city of Izmir, Turkey

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Abstract

Background

Psychotic symptoms, psychotic-like experiences and schizotypal signs can emerge in different socio-cultural circumstances and cause clinical or non-clinical pictures. Transient or self-limiting psychotic-like experiences are more prevalent than clinical psychotic disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of psychotic symptoms in an urban area.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among the residents of two districts in the urban area of Izmir, Turkey. Among the systematically selected 1,500 residents of 85,212-study population, a total of 1,268 individuals (response rate: 84.5%) were screened for any lifetime psychotic symptoms.

Results

Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess psychotic symptoms. CIDI (+) psychotic symptoms were found in 3.6% of the screened sample. Logistic regression analysis showed that being a female (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.2–5.1), having a first degree family history of any mental disorders (OR = 13.9, 95% CI = 5.7–34.3), lack of social support (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 2.3–8.6) and alcohol use (OR = 4.9, 95% CI = 2.3–10.6) were all related to psychotic symptoms.

Conclusion

Prevalence of any psychotic symptom is lower compared to European studies. Alcohol might be considered as a risk factor for developing psychotic symptoms in the Turkish cultural setting.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Dokuz Eylul University Research Fund Project no. 0909.01.02.02, April 2001. The authors are grateful to Gül Ergör and Belgin Ünal. Without their enthusiastic participation, this project could not have been realized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Köksal Alptekin, Halis Ulas, Berna Binnur Akdede & Yıldız Akvardar

  2. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Mevhibe Tümüklü

Authors
  1. Köksal Alptekin
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  2. Halis Ulas
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  3. Berna Binnur Akdede
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  4. Mevhibe Tümüklü
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  5. Yıldız Akvardar
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Correspondence to Köksal Alptekin.

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Alptekin, K., Ulas, H., Akdede, B.B. et al. Prevalence and risk factors of psychotic symptoms: in the city of Izmir, Turkey. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 44, 905–910 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0012-x

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