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Early traumatic experiences, perceived discrimination and conversion to psychosis in those at clinical high risk for psychosis

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology volume 51, pages 497–503 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

There is evidence to suggest that both early traumatic experiences and perceived discrimination are associated with later onset of psychosis. Less is known about the impact these two factors may have on conversion to psychosis in those who are at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis. The purpose of this study was to determine if trauma and perceived discrimination were predictors of conversion to psychosis.

Methods

The sample consisted of 764 individuals who were at CHR of developing psychosis and 280 healthy controls. All participants were assessed on past trauma, bullying and perceived discrimination.

Results

Individuals at CHR reported significantly more trauma, bullying and perceived discrimination than healthy controls. Only perceived discrimination was a predictor of later conversion to psychosis.

Conclusions

Given that CHR individuals are reporting increased rates of trauma and perceived discrimination, these should be routinely assessed, with the possibility of offering interventions aimed at ameliorating the impact of past traumas as well as improving self-esteem and coping strategies in an attempt to reduce perceived discrimination.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the NAPLS group: T Raedler, L McGregor, D Marulanda, L Legere, L Marshall, E Falukozi, E Fitton, K Smith, (University of Calgary). T Alderman, K Shafer, I Domingues, A Hurria, H Mirzakhanian (UCSD). B Walsh, J Saksa, N Santamauro, A Carlson, J Kenney, B Roman (Yale University). K Woodberry, AJ Giuliano, W Stone, JM Rodenhiser, L Tucker, R Serur, G Min, R Szent-Imrey (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard). C Bearden, P Bachman, J Zinberg, S DeSilva, A Andaya, S Uguryan (UCLA). J Brasfield, H Trotman, (Emory University). A Pelletier, K Lansing, H Mates, J Nieri, B Landaas, K Graham, E Rothman, J Hurta, Y Sierra (University of North Carolina). A Auther, R Carrion, M McLaughlin, R Olsen (Zucker Hillside Hospital).

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada

    Jacqueline Stowkowy, Lu Liu & Jean Addington

  2. Department of Psychiatry, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Kristin S. Cadenhead & Ming T. Tsuang

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Long Island, NY, USA

    Barbara A. Cornblatt

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Tyrone D. Cannon, Thomas H. McGlashan & Scott W. Woods

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Diana O. Perkins

  6. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Larry J. Seidman

  7. Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Elaine F. Walker

  8. Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Carrie E. Bearden

  9. Department of Psychiatry, UCSF, San Francisco, USA

    Daniel H. Mathalon

Authors
  1. Jacqueline Stowkowy
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  2. Lu Liu
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  3. Kristin S. Cadenhead
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  4. Tyrone D. Cannon
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  5. Barbara A. Cornblatt
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  6. Thomas H. McGlashan
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  7. Diana O. Perkins
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  8. Larry J. Seidman
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  9. Ming T. Tsuang
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  10. Elaine F. Walker
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  11. Scott W. Woods
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  12. Carrie E. Bearden
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  13. Daniel H. Mathalon
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  14. Jean Addington
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacqueline Stowkowy.

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Funding source

This study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant U01MH081984 to Dr Addington; Grants U01 MH081928; P50 MH080272; Commonwealth of Massachusetts SCDMH82101008006 to Dr Seidman; Grants R01 MH60720, U01 MH082022 and K24 MH76191 to Dr Cadenhead; Grant U01MH081902 to Dr Cannon; Grant U01MH082004-01A1 to Dr Perkins; Grant U01MH081988 to Dr Walker; Grant U01MH082022 to Dr Woods; and UO1 MH081857-05 Grant to Dr Cornblatt. The NIMH had no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Stowkowy, J., Liu, L., Cadenhead, K.S. et al. Early traumatic experiences, perceived discrimination and conversion to psychosis in those at clinical high risk for psychosis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 51, 497–503 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1182-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1182-y

Keywords

  • Clinical high risk
  • Psychosis
  • Trauma
  • Perceived discrimination
  • Prodrome
  • Risk