Gender-Diverse Youths Report More Psychotic Symptoms
Longitudinal cohort data linked bullying and persistently unsupportive state gender-identity policies with worsening psychotic-like experiences among gender-diverse youths.
By
Andrea Surnit
May 21, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Gender-Diverse Youths Reported More Psychotic-Like Experiences
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Psychotic-like experiences in gender-diverse youths Key Mechanisms Bullying victimization and unsupportive gender-identity policy environments Target Population Gender-diverse youths, particularly those assigned female at birth Care Setting Clinical settings assessing mental health in adolescents
Key Highlights
Most gender-diverse youths scored higher on psychotic-like experiences than least gender-diverse youths. Bullying victimization partially mediated the association between gender diversity and psychotic-like experiences. Psychotic-like experiences increased over time among most gender-diverse youths in low-support policy environments. The study utilized the Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief Child Version (PQ-BC) for assessment. Findings suggest implications for psychosis-risk assessment in gender-diverse youths. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Consider the potential contribution of gender minority stress when assessing psychosis risk. Management
Implement school anti-bullying interventions to support mental health. Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor psychotic-like experiences in gender-diverse youths, especially in unsupportive policy environments. Risks
Increased risk for later psychotic disorders, suicidal behavior, and poor functional outcomes linked to psychotic-like experiences. Patient & Prescribing Data
Gender-diverse youths aged around 13 years
Consider social environment and policy context in treatment planning.
Clinical Best Practices
Utilize longitudinal data to understand trends in psychotic-like experiences. Assess bullying victimization as a factor in mental health evaluations. Engage with supportive policy environments to improve mental health outcomes. Related Resources & Content
