Children who are bullied at school are up to
four times more likely than their peers to develop psychotic
symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions and paranoia – and the
more severe the bullying the more severe the symptoms.
Professor Dieter Wolke, professor of
developmental psychology at the University of Warwick Medical
School, told the Annual Meeting of the Royal College of
Psychiatrists in Liverpool, that around 5 per cent of the general
population displayed psychotic-like symptoms – and the vast
majority were likely to have been bullied at school.
He told Annual Meeting delegates that bullying
in school can be divided into two types: overt bullying, including
punching, kicking and physical intimidation; and relational
bullying, such as spreading rumours and cyber-bullying which can
lead to the victim being ostracised.
Children who experience psychotic symptoms are
16 times more likely to develop full-blown psychosis later in their
lives.
Professor Wolke and colleagues analysed data
from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The
long-term study has followed total of 6,437 expectant mothers and
their partners since 1991. The parents, and their children, are
followed up annually using a range of physical and psychological
assessments.
Professor Wolke examined the interviews
conducted with the parents and children when the children had
reached the age of 13. He found that factors such as a family
history of mental health problems, IQ levels, previous psychiatric
problems or poor housing had little or no bearing on whether a
child went on to develop psychotic symptoms.
However, if a child was bullied at primary
school, he or she was four times more likely to develop psychotic
symptoms. They were also twice as likely to go on to be bullied at
secondary school.
Professor Wolke said: “We have for the first
time show that the bullying has occurred before the psychotic
symptoms developed. The more severe the victimisation, the higher
the likelihood of having psychotic symptoms. If you are victim of
bullying you have twice the risk of psychotic symptoms. But if you
are bullied over a long time, your risk quadruples, and if you
experience both overt and relational bullying your risk increases
4.6 times. There is a no higher predictor of psychosis than
bullying.”
Children with few friends were more likely to
be bullied, because other children were not there to defend them,
said Professor Wolke. Being continually bullied could lead to
changes in the young brain as a result of overreaction to stress
and continual increased in the release of the stress hormone
cortisol.
Prof Wolke concluded that having friendships
and good relationships with classmates plays a vital role in
children’s mental health and well-being.
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, BT Convention Centre, Liverpool, 2 -5 June 2009