Unusual experiences in autistic children. Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is there an association between being subjected to bullying and the presence of psychosis-like experiences in autistic children?
IRAS ID
257859
Contact name
Kimberley Hastings
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Being subjected to bullying has been associated with the emergence of psychosis-like experiences in typically developing children e.g. seeing or hearing things that other people cannot and feeling suspicious of others. Rates of bullying are elevated among autistic children, in comparison to typically developing peers. There is also evidence that psychosis-like experiences are common among autistic children, however, research has not yet examined what factors may be linked with the emergence of such experiences in this group.
This study therefore aims to establish whether being subjected to bullying is associated with psychosis-like experiences in autistic children. Data will also be collected on other factors associated with psychosis-like experiences in typically developing children. These will be children's internalising symptoms (levels of anxiety and depression), demographics (age, sex, ethnicity), family history of psychosis and socioeconomic status.
A cross-sectional design will be used, wherein caregivers will be asked to complete a series of online questionnaires about their child. This will include a questionnaire about their child's mental health, which will incorporate items about unusual experiences. They will also complete questionnaires about how often their child is bullied and a child demographics questionnaire, which will include items about family history of psychosis and current postcode. Postcode will be used to calculate the index of multiple deprivation (an indicator of socioeconomic status). The primary analysis will involve establishing whether there is a relationship between being bullied and having psychosis-like experiences, while controlling for the additional variables identified above.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0147
Date of REC Opinion
16 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion