Okay,here’s a revised and fact-checked version of the provided text,incorporating corrections and updates based on web searches as of today,February 6,2026. I’ve focused on verifying names, dates, publication details, and the core findings. I’ve also addressed potential inaccuracies and added clarifying information where appropriate.
Psychosis Rates Increasing in Younger Generations, Ontario Study Finds
A new study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reveals a concerning trend: increasing rates of psychotic disorders in more recent generations born in Ontario, Canada. Researchers found a significant rise in the incidence of these disorders, notably among individuals born in the 1990s and 2000s.
The population-based cohort study, involving over 3.5 million individuals, showed that the incidence of psychotic disorders increased by 1.8% per year between 2000 and 2018. Specifically, individuals born in the 1990s had a 28% higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder compared to those born in the 1980s. Those born in the 2000s showed a further increase in risk.
“These findings suggest a real and concerning increase in the incidence of psychotic disorders in younger Canadians,” said Dr. David T. Myran, a clinician scientist in Psychiatry and Community Medicine at North York General Hospital, and a scientist at ICES and the Bruyère Health Research Institute, said in a news release. “Consequently, the observed trends raise significant questions about possible causes and consequences of increasing numbers of psychotic disorder diagnoses.”2
Regarding limitations, the investigators acknowledged that their findings are possibly subject to age-period-cohort (APC) confounding, and disentangling the influence of these separate effects is challenging. Additionally, they noted being unable to observe more recent birth cohorts at older ages, and the observed trends may not persist long term. The authors wrote that underestimation in earlier cohorts may be possible due to participants born in the 1960s and early 1970s entering observation once they reach their twenties or thirties; however, consistent increases remained evident even when comparing cohorts fully observable from adolescence (e.g., higher incidence among those born in the 1990s vs those born in the 1980s).1
Further, the changes observed during the study may partially reflect increased awareness and reduced stigma regarding mental health, leading to more help-seeking behavior, especially for milder symptoms. However, psychotic disorders-which present with substantial acuity and impairment-would be much less susceptible to such biases, explained the authors.1
“We don’t yet know what’s driving these changes, and it’s likely there isn’t a single explanation. Understanding what’s behind this trend will be critical to prevention and early support,” Myran explained.”A leading possibility is substance use-including cannabis, stimulants, hallucinogens, and synthetic drugs. The use of substances, especially earlier in life, is associated with the development and worsening of psychotic disorders, and substance use in Canada has risen over the past 2 decades.”2
REFERENCES
1. Myran DT, Gibb M, Pugliese M, et al. Incidence of psychotic disorders by birth cohort: a population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada. CMAJ. 2026;198(4):E118-E127. doi:10.1503/cmaj.250926
2. Canadian Medical Association Journal. Psychosis rates increasing in more recent generations. News release. February 2, 2026. Accessed February 6, 2026. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/198/4/E118
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