The prevalence and psychosis-specific value of APS and other at-risk criteria in the general population is still unclear. Therefore, we studied the prevalence of ultra-high risk and basic symptom criteria in a general population samplein relation to the presence of non-psychotic axis-I disorders.

1’229 persons (age 16-40) were interviewed on the phone by trained psychologists. At-risk criteria (UHR, COPER, COGDIS) were assessed with the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes and the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument, Adult version; axis-I disorders with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview.

2.8% fulfilled at-risk criteria, additional 22.5% acknowledged lifetime-presence of any at-risk phenomenon irrespective of meeting any current atrisk criterion. In comparison with persons without any lifetime risk phenomena or any current at-risk criterion, those withhad a higher number of current axis-I disorders (criteria: U=4209.5, p<0.000; Rosenthal’s r=0.129; phenomena: U=47318.5, p<0.000; r=0.233). Those currently meeting at-risk criteria significantly more frequently met criteria for affective (32.4% vs. 11.6%, Cramers-V=0.208) or anxiety disorders (29.4% vs.15.5%, Cramers-V=0.115); eating and somatoform disorders did not differ in frequency compared to subjects not reporting current at-risk criteria.

Also on population level, the presence of at-risk criteria is associated with a higher mental morbidity pointing towards a psychopathological character of at-risk symptoms. In line with findings on help-seeking at-risk samples, particularly affective and anxiety disorders were elevated.