S119. PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS RELATED TO SUBTHRESHHOLD PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Mental illness affects adolescents and young adults more than any other illness, interrupting promising young lives. Early detection and prospective evaluation of individuals who may be at risk of developing mental illnesses, psychosis in particular, are critical to efforts to isolate mechanisms underlying illness onset and to the testing of preventive interventions. This topic is especially relevant to young African American adolescents and young adults as they are often overidentified as schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to investigate if certain psychosocial factors such as discrimination, substance use, and perceived stress may put individuals at risk of developing subthreshold psychotic symptoms. We hypothesized that these factors are significantly correlated with risk for subclinical psychotic symptoms. Methods: This study was conducted with a correlational design. Participants were African American college students attending a Historically Black College and University in Southeast of the United States. There were altogether 202 participants, with 142 females and 60 males. Their ages range from 18 to 25 (M = 21.5, SD =4.6). Among the participants, 43 were freshmen, 47 sophomore, 35 junior, and 62 senior students. In addition, 91% participants had religious beliefs. Information gathered included demographic information, Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B), Discrimination Inventory, and Perceived Stress Scale. The PQ-B scale is a 21-item scale that measures the number of positive symptoms, such as subclinical levels of hallucination (see shadows over the corner of my eye) and stress of the symptoms. The Discrimination Inventory contains nine items describing daily negative experiences. Substance use was measured by two Yes or No questions to most frequently used substances over the past month. The Perceived Stress Scale measures feelings and thoughts over the last month indicative of stress. Questionnaires were administered in group format. Adequate time was provided for participants to ask questions. Results: Pearson Product Correlational analyses show a significant relationship between perceived discrimination and PQB Positive symptom total score (r=.296), and PQB distress score (r=.234). Substance use is significantly correlated with a PQB positive symptom total score (r=.66) and PQB distress score (r=.411). Stimulant use in general is significantly with PQB positive symptom total score (r=.301). Among the 12 substances, depressant use is significantly correlated with PQB positive symptom total score (r=.279) and PQB distress score (.148). Opioid use is positively correlated with PQB total score (r=.296), but not with the PQB distress score. The last variable analyzed was perceived stress, which is significantly correlated with the PQB total score (r=.296) and PQB distress score (r=.234). Discussion: This is the first study to our knowledge specifically examining the relationship between stress, discrimination, and substance use as a risk factor for psychosis among African American college students. As current research is conducted, and instruments continue to emerge in the clinical high-risk field, it is imperative that cultural implications are carefully considered in their development. Implications for research and clinical practice will be presented.