BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Children who are constantly bullied are at greater risk for developing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions as they hit adolescence.

    British researchers said Monday children who were consistently victimized by their peers at ages 8 or 10 were twice as likely to have psychotic symptoms by the time they hit adolescence. That risk was even greater if the bullying was particularly chronic or severe.

    Researcher Andrea Schreier, PhD, of Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick in England, and colleagues said bullying -- especially when it is severe or chronic -- can have serious consequences for some children, and may even act as a trigger for people who are genetically predisposed to schizophrenia.

    The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, included more than 6,400 children in Bristol, England, who were evaluated annually from ages 7 to about 13.

    The children, their parents, and teachers reported whether the child had been bullied by peers. At each annual visit, interviewers also rated the children on whether they experienced psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, or thought disorders during the previous six months.

    The results showed that 46% of children were bullied at either age 8 or 10. By about age 13, 5.6% of the children had one or more psychotic symptoms definitely present and 11.5%-13.7% of the children had one or more psychotic symptoms suspected or definitely present.

    (Agencies)