Feb 2, 2026 09:26 PM
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1114607
INTRO: A new study suggests that people born more recently are being diagnosed with psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) more often and at younger ages compared with people born earlier.
The study included over 12 million individuals who were born between 1960 and 2005 and followed them for new diagnoses of a psychotic disorder between 1993 and 2023. Over the study, 152,587 individuals were diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. Researchers from ICES, North York General, The Ottawa Hospital, and Bruyère Health Research Institute found that the rate of new diagnoses of psychotic disorders started rising for people born in the 1980s and later.
For example, individuals born in 2000-2004 were estimated to have a 70 per cent greater rate of new diagnoses of psychotic disorders compared to those born in 1975-1979. The total number of people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder by the time they reached age 30 increased by 37.5 per cent higher for those born in 1990-1994 compared to 1975-1979.
“Psychotic disorders can have profound negative impacts on a person’s life, including their mental and physical health, education, work, and relationships,” says Dr. Daniel Myran, Gordon F. Cheesbrough Research Chair in Family and Community Medicine, North York General and a scientist at ICES and the Bruyère Health Research Institute. “While some of the increases in psychotic disorder diagnoses in people born in the 1980s and 1990s may reflect improvements in care and early diagnosis, these patterns raise important concerns about generational changes in exposure to factors that increase the risk of psychotic disorders.
“We don’t yet know what’s driving these changes, and it’s likely there isn’t a single explanation. Understanding what’s behind this trend will be critical to prevention and early support.” Risk factors associated with psychosis, including early life substance use and older-aged parents, may contribute to the rise of psychotic disorders... (MORE - details, no ads)
INTRO: A new study suggests that people born more recently are being diagnosed with psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) more often and at younger ages compared with people born earlier.
The study included over 12 million individuals who were born between 1960 and 2005 and followed them for new diagnoses of a psychotic disorder between 1993 and 2023. Over the study, 152,587 individuals were diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. Researchers from ICES, North York General, The Ottawa Hospital, and Bruyère Health Research Institute found that the rate of new diagnoses of psychotic disorders started rising for people born in the 1980s and later.
For example, individuals born in 2000-2004 were estimated to have a 70 per cent greater rate of new diagnoses of psychotic disorders compared to those born in 1975-1979. The total number of people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder by the time they reached age 30 increased by 37.5 per cent higher for those born in 1990-1994 compared to 1975-1979.
“Psychotic disorders can have profound negative impacts on a person’s life, including their mental and physical health, education, work, and relationships,” says Dr. Daniel Myran, Gordon F. Cheesbrough Research Chair in Family and Community Medicine, North York General and a scientist at ICES and the Bruyère Health Research Institute. “While some of the increases in psychotic disorder diagnoses in people born in the 1980s and 1990s may reflect improvements in care and early diagnosis, these patterns raise important concerns about generational changes in exposure to factors that increase the risk of psychotic disorders.
“We don’t yet know what’s driving these changes, and it’s likely there isn’t a single explanation. Understanding what’s behind this trend will be critical to prevention and early support.” Risk factors associated with psychosis, including early life substance use and older-aged parents, may contribute to the rise of psychotic disorders... (MORE - details, no ads)