People born in recent decades are experiencing psychotic disorders — including schizophrenia — more frequently and at a younger age than previous generations. This conclusion was reached by Canadian researchers who analyzed data from more than 12 million residents of Ontario. The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

The sample included 12.2 million people born between 1960 and 2009. Over the observation period, psychotic disorders were diagnosed in 152,587 of them. The researchers identified a pronounced “cohort effect”: beginning with individuals born in the 1980s, the incidence of new diagnoses began to rise steadily.

The most noticeable changes were recorded among adolescents and young adults. In the 14–20 age group, the number of new psychosis cases increased by 60% — from 62.5 to 99.7 per 100,000 people between 1997 and 2023. According to the authors’ estimates, individuals born in 2000–2004 had about a 70% higher risk of experiencing a first psychotic disorder compared with those born in 1975–1979. By age 30, the total number of diagnosed psychosis cases in the 1990–1994 cohort was 37.5% higher than in the mid-1970s cohort.

The increase was observed in both men and women, although men consistently remained at higher risk throughout the period. Particularly pronounced differences were found for so-called non-affective psychoses — conditions not directly linked to mood disorders, including schizophrenia. These diagnoses were more common among men, residents of low-income areas, long-term Canadian residents, and people with a history of other mental disorders and substance use problems.

According to the study’s lead author, Daniel Myran, the rising number of diagnoses is a serious cause for concern. Psychotic disorders are associated with high morbidity, an increased risk of premature death, and substantial demands on medical and social resources. However, there is still no clear explanation for the trend.

The authors note that the Canadian findings align with recent data from Denmark and Australia, where an increase in schizophrenia diagnoses among younger generations has also been observed. They call for further research to better understand the underlying causes and to develop prevention strategies and early support measures.