1. The majority of all severe psychiatric disorders emerge in adolescents. Early detection of these psychiatric disorders could lead to earlier and more successful treatment interventions. The study by Bouhaddani et al (2018) did not find a positive correlation between adolescents who experience somatic symptoms and/or have low self-esteem with the development of psychiatric disorders later in life. What type of environmental factors or genetic predispositions exist to the development of adolescent psychosis?
There is a strong genetic link to the development of schizophrenia. There is indication of heritability and genetic basis of schizophrenia but not specific genes (Yearwood, et al., 2012). There is a strong emphasis on the importance of considering the interplay between microsocial environmental factors such as family dynamics and self-esteem in the formation and expression of positive symptoms and paranoia in the critical period of the emergence of psychosis (Hinojosa-Marqus, et al., 2021). Emotional and behaviour problems increase the risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, nonaffective psychosis, and schizophreniform disorder (Shakoor, et al., 2018). Most of the children involved in shared psychotic disorder (SPD) presented with social isolation and safeguarding concerns (Vigo, et al., 2019). The association between SPD and environmental (social isolation) and genetic factors (family history), demystifying the idea that separation is the only treatment and showing that selected cases may require antipsychotic agents (Vigo, et al., 2019). Trauma is an important risk factor among those at high risk of psychosis (Georgopoulos, et al., 2019). Environmental insults such as hypoxia-associated complications during pregnancy and prenatal exposures to diseases, and famine with fetal malnutrition increase the odds of developing schizophrenia (Yearwood, et al., 2012). There has been evidence that cases of schizophrenia were found to have a history of broken home with most being associated with death of a parent. Poor prognosis is found in cases where individuals with schizophrenia had a family history that includes psychosis and dysfunctional family behavior. Dysfunction of the social brain refers to deficits in social functioning and is present in many psychiatric disorders. This developmental disturbance affects the interconnections of the brain and leads to disorganization of thinking and perception, as well as inappropriate and flat affect, and deficits in social functioning. Environmental insults such as hypoxia-associated complications during pregnancy and prenatal exposures to diseases, and famine with fetal malnutrition increase the odds of developing schizophrenia (Yearwood, et al., 2012). Interactions between adolescents are occurring more on social media especially since the COVID pandemic. Although the internet makes it faster and easier for people to connect through social media, they may just as well be harmful for this young age group. On social media, it is much easier for people to be evaluated and criticized based on an online personal profile (Klippel, et. al., 2018). It is possible that exposure to environmental stressors such as bullying can contribute towards distortions in cognitive processes which in turn increase the risk of developing emotional and behaviour problems and psychotic experiences (Shakoor, et al., 2018).
