Understanding the mechanisms linking cities to psychotic experiences across the lifespan

Over two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities by 2050. This trend is concerning, given that urban living is associated with the development of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia as well as subclinical psychotic experiences such as hallucinations and delusions. However, the mechanisms underpinning this relationship remain unclear. I will examine the roles of neighbourhood environmental features (air and noise pollution), neighbourhood social features (crime and social cohesion), biopsychological mechanisms (inflammation and cognition), and genetic confounding in the link between cities and psychotic experiences across the lifespan. In doing so, I will utilise three large UK studies spanning birth to middle-age, capitalise on recent developments in detailed air pollution models, and apply advanced methods to disentangle causal associations from a range of potential confounds. By identifying modifiable risk factors in the urban environment, this research will help to reduce the harmful impact of city living on mental health.