Psychotic experiences are associated with greater impairment among students in higher education with depression and anxiety in the United States

Abstract

BackgroundPsychotic experiences are associated with depression and anxiety, but emerging research suggests that psychotic experiences are also associated with impairment within psychopathology. MethodsWe analyzed a subsample from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021; N = 91,435) and used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between psychotic experiences and impairment resulting from depression and anxiety, adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. ResultsAround one-in-five students with depression or anxiety impairment reported 12-month psychotic experiences. Psychotic experiences were associated with greater odds of depression impairment and anxiety impairment, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity. Odds ratios varied depending on the type of psychotic experience and the outcomes. ConclusionPsychotic experiences are associated with greater odds of impairment resulting from depression and anxiety. In clinical practice, psychotic experiences may serve as a useful marker of assessing impairment resulting from psychopathology.