Changing schools regularly could lead to psychotic traits in kids

Researchers have found that children who have repeatedly changed schools may be likelier to develop psychotic-like symptoms as young teenagers.

In a study of 6,448 children by scientists led by Prof Swaran Singh, at the University of Warwick, kids who had moved schools thrice or more before they turned 12 were 60 per cent likelier to develop at least one psychotic symptom as young teenagers, the BBC reported.

Psychotic traits included hallucinations and delusions, and could be a precursor to psychotic disorders.

The researchers tracked the movements of kids by analyzing info from a birth cohort study that began in 1991.

In the cohort, parents filled in questionnaires every year after their kid was born, and their kids attended annual assessment clinics, including face-to face interviews, psychological and physical tests.

Kids were interviewed at 12 years of age to see if they had experienced any psychotic-like traits in the past six months.