The Influence of Psychotic-Like Experiences on Intent to Seek Treatment: Findings From a Multisite Community Survey of Mental Health Experiences (WP-22-24)
Miranda Bridgwater, Mallory Klaunig, Emily Petti, Pamela Rakhshan Rouhakhtar, Arielle Ered, Franchesca Kuhney, Alison Boos, Nicole Andorko, Lauren Ellman, Vijay Mittal, and Jason Schiffman
Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) may reflect elevated risk for serious mental illness, including psychosis. Although some studies report an association between PLEs and increased service utilization, there is evidence of unmet need among individuals with PLEs, with few studies exploring the relation between PLEs and intent to seek treatment. Characterizing factors that underlie intent to seek treatment in individuals with PLEs may assist in identifying young people in need of services and prioritizing symptoms of greatest significance. Non-help-seeking participants ages 16–30 years (nanalysis = 2,529) in a multi-site study completed online questionnaires of PLEs (PRIME with distress), depression (CES-D) and anxiety (STAI). Associations between PLEs, depression, anxiety and intent to seek treatment were analyzed through multiple linear regressions. PRIME scores predicted intent to seek treatment, even when controlling for symptoms of anxiety and depression (all ps < .05). Item-level analyses suggested that this association was driven by items 12 (“going crazy”) and 5 (“confused if things are real or imagination/dreams”). Item 9 (“feeling like one’s mind is playing tricks”) was negatively associated with intent to seek treatment (all ps < .05). PLE total scores predicted treatment-seeking intention independent of depression and anxiety in this general community sample. Distinguishing what is and is not real and “going crazy” were the two items most strongly driving this association. Findings suggest that PLEs represent clinically relevant experiences resulting in increased intention to seek services, with certain PLEs potentially serving as candidate targets for intervention.