ArticleBJPsych open2024
Loneliness in adolescence and prescription of psychotropic drugs in adulthood: 23-year longitudinal population-based and registry study.
Article in BJPsych open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association between questionnaire-based and accelerometer-based physical activity and the incidence of psychiatric disorders in people with loneliness or social isolation: findings from the UK Biobank.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2026Article
- Loneliness patterns across time and subsequent risk of psychotic experiences, depression, anxiety, and diminished well-being in adolescents.Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 2026Article
- Childhood Loneliness and Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- Long term patterns and risk factors of loneliness in young adults from an 18-Year longitudinal study in Germany.Scientific reports · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe role of adolescent loneliness in adult mental health and prescriptions of psychotropic drugs remains underexplored.
aimsWe aim to determine whether (a) experiencing loneliness in adolescence and (b) changes in loneliness from adolescence to adulthood are prospectively associated with prescriptions for a variety of psychotropic drugs in adulthood.
methodWe used data from a Norwegian population-based sample with 2602 participants, collected across four waves between 1992 and 2006. Loneliness was assessed at each wave, with survey data linked to medicinal drug prescription records from the Norwegian Prescription Database. We identified prescription histories of antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, antidepressants and benzodiazepines from 2007 to 2015, for each participant. We use latent growth curve analyses to model the relationship of adolescent loneliness and loneliness change from adolescence to adulthood, with subsequent psychotropic drugs prescription.
resultsAdolescents with heightened loneliness, and adolescents whose loneliness increased into young adulthood, had a greater likelihood of being prescribed antipsychotics, mood stabilisers and antidepressants in adulthood. These associations remained significant after adjustment for confounders such as sociodemographic characteristics, conduct problems, substance use and mental health problems.
conclusionsLoneliness in adolescence and its adverse development over a span of 15 years was linked to higher risk of receiving prescriptions for antipsychotics, mood stabilisers and antidepressants later in life. The findings may indicate that loneliness increases the risk for developing psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders and major depression.
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