Psychotic experiences in adolescents are common. Those affected often have auditory hallucinations: real-sounding voices created by the mind. Although not classed as a psychiatric illness, these experiences can increase the chances of developing a serious condition. They can also have a devastating impact on the adolescent’s social and emotional development. It is known that stressful life events can increase the risk of experiencing these symptoms, but the mechanism is not yet known. An area of the brain called the amygdala which is involved in emotion and stress may be affected by these psychotic experiences. The amygdala is composed of multiple substructures and integrates stress and anxiety by controlling a hormone called cortisol that mediates the effects of stress in the body and brain. The aim of this research is to establish if there is any link between the psychotic experiences, the amygdala and cortisol levels.
During this project, I will use neuroimaging software to estimate the volume of the amygdala substructures from MRI scans which have already been collected from adolescents as part of an on-going study led by Professor Mary Cannon. I will also have access to cortisol levels collected from these adolescents. The amygdala volumes and cortisol measures will be statistically analyzed to understand their association in adolescents who do and do not report psychotic experiences. Uncovering the relationship between the amygdala and cortisol will improve knowledge of the mechanisms involved and may allow the development of interventions for these vulnerable adolescents.