Skip to main content
To the Editor: We thank Mr. Richardson for drawing attention to the likely relationship between low socioeconomic status in childhood and adult delusional-like experiences. Low socioeconomic status in childhood is associated with a wide array of adverse health outcomes, affecting both physical (1) and mental health (2) . We are also interested in the influence of socioeconomic status on adult delusional-like experiences and adult psychosis but would like to consider a number of potential confounding factors. For example, parental mental health problems would be associated with both low childhood socioeconomic status and an increased risk of delusional-like experiences in offspring (3) . Abuse in childhood is known to be more prevalent in families with low socioeconomic status, but this exposure is also associated with psychotic symptoms in adulthood (4) . Thus, any relationship between childhood socioeconomic status and adult delusional-like experiences would probably be complex and warrants detailed and focused investigation. We look forward to reporting our findings in this area in future studies and encourage further exploration of the many factors influencing pathways to psychosis.

Footnotes

The authors’ disclosures accompany the original article.
This letter (doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09050742r) was accepted for publication in June 2009.

References

1.
Krieger N: Why epidemiologists cannot afford to ignore poverty. Epidemiology 2007; 18:658–663
2.
Werner S, Malaspina D, Rabinowitz J: Socioeconomic status at birth is associated with risk of schizophrenia: population-based multilevel study. Schizophr Bull 2007; 33:1373–1378
3.
Varghese D, Scott J, McGrath J: Correlates of delusion-like experiences in a non-psychotic community sample. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2008; 42:505–508
4.
van Os, J, Linscott, RJ, Myin-Germeys I, Delespaul P, Krabbendam L: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the psychosis continuum: evidence for a psychosis proneness-persistence-impairment model of psychotic disorder. Psychol Med 2009; 39:179–195

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
American Journal of Psychiatry
Pages: 1063

History

Published online: 1 September 2009
Published in print: September, 2009

Authors

Details

JAMES SCOTT, M.B.B.S., F.R.A.N.Z.C.P.
JOHN MCGRATH, M.D., Ph.D.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard

View Options

View options

PDF/EPUB

View PDF/EPUB

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login
Purchase Options

Purchase this article to access the full text.

PPV Articles - American Journal of Psychiatry

PPV Articles - American Journal of Psychiatry

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share