Attenuated mental symptoms in the general population: first data from the observational cross-sectional ATTENTION study in Greece

Background It has been reported that abnormal experiences could be common in the general healthy population, with the vast majority of individuals never proceeding to manifest a frank mental disorder. Aims This study aimed to quantify subthreshold psychiatric symptoms in the general population. Methods The protocol included clinicodemographic data and a mental symptoms questionnaire, and additionally, the CES-D, STAI-S, RASS, and the GloDiS to assess depression, anxiety, suicidality, and functional impairment, respectively. The data were collected online and anonymously from 1504 persons (75.66% females; 23.73% males). Descriptive statistics, risk ratios, and factor analysis were utilized. Results Clinical depression was present in approximately 10%, any somatic disorder in 20.21% (9.90% both), and a history of any mental disorder was present in 42.75%. The healthy individuals (46.94% of the study sample) were experiencing distress (8.6%) and subthreshold mental symptoms (attenuated psychotic, schizotypal distrust, emotional lability, conformity, and interpersonal and social functioning). Attenuated psychotic symptoms are present in almost 10%, and the conversion rate to any kind of psychosis was probably 0.5% per year until the age of 40, with one-third of these persons eventually converting. Beyond the age of 40, no conversion to psychosis seems to occur. All aspects of symptoms correlated weakly but significantly with aspects of functional impairment. Conclusions The results of the current study are in accord with the literature and suggest that a significant number of persons in the general population experience attenuated psychiatric symptoms and mild functional impairment without ever manifesting an overt mental disorder. There is a need for further research on this matter to confirm these findings and to explore their implications both for mental and somatic health and the provision of health care.