Category: Schizophrenia / Psychotic Disorders
Daisy Lopez, M.S.
Graduate Student
University of Miami
Miami Beach, Florida
Carrie Bearden, Ph.D.
UCLA School of Medicine
LA, California
Daisy Lopez, M.S.
Graduate Student
University of Miami
Miami Beach, Florida
Genesis Saenz-Escalante, B.A.
University of Miami
Miami, Florida
Amy Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
Emily Carol, Ph.D.
McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Belmont, Massachusetts
Emma Parrish, M.S.
San Diego State University / University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
San Diego, California
Due to frequent stereotyping of individuals with psychotic spectrum disorders (PSDs) as dangerous, violent, and crazy, they often experience discrimination, prejudice, and violence (Oexle et al., 2018; Morgan et al., 2018). In fact, 1 in 4 fatal police encounters involve people with PSDs (Fuller, Lamb, Biasotti, & Snook, 2015). Additionally, individuals with PSDs are 12 times more likely to die by suicide than individuals without a PSD (Dutta et al., 2010). Prominent theories posit that interpersonal factors, such as feeling like a burden to others, thwarted belonging, and feeling socially defeated are associated with increased suicide risk (Joiner, 2005; O’Conner, 2011). Thus, understanding interpersonal factors linked with outcomes such as suicide risk or police stigma across the PSD trajectory is paramount for prevention efforts.
As aforementioned, individuals with PSD are at increased risk of suicide. However, it is unclear how early in the development of PSDs the increased risk is present. The first talk will examine the associations between suicide risk factors from prominent interpersonal suicide theories, suicidal ideation, and subclinical symptoms of psychosis. Family often serves as the primary source of social support for many individuals, especially among people with PSDs (Pernice-Duca, 2008; Torrey, 2001). However, no research has examined the role of rumors in families on suicidality. The second talk will therefore discuss the association between the prevalence of rumors in family environments, subclinical symptoms of psychosis, and suicidal ideation. When an individual first experiences a crisis due to psychosis, one of the first social contacts in their pathway to care often involves police. Unfortunately, not only can this result in a criminal record, imprisonment, trauma, but, often, death. For example, even though only 4 in every 100 adults in the US live with a PSD, these individuals represent 1 in 10 calls to police and 1 in 5 prison/jail bed occupants. Moreover, 1 in 3 individuals taken to a hospital ER for psychiatric crisis are brought in by police and individuals with mental illness make up a disproportionate number of individuals who are killed by law enforcement (Fuller, Lamb, Biasotti, & Snook, 2015). The third talk will therefore examine factors that are associated with police stigma towards people with schizophrenia. Social interactions impact our day to day lives and have been shown to be important to one’s wellbeing, general mental health, and risk of suicide. The fourth talk will therefore review the impact of social distancing and the COVID pandemic on young adults with first episode psychosis. Examined outcomes include social and occupational functioning, self-esteem, overall wellbeing, among others. Finally, our fifth talk will discuss the feasibility and acceptability of two novel suicide prevention interventions for people with PSDs.
This symposium offers attendees a better understanding of how interpersonal factors such as internal perceptions of social relationships, one’s family environment, police stigma, COVID-related social disruptions, and social engagement may impact individuals with PSDs on various outcomes across the illness trajectory.
Presenter: Daisy Lopez, M.S. – University of Miami
Co-author: Amy G. Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D. – University of Miami
Presenter: Genesis M. Saenz-Escalante, B.A. – University of Miami
Co-author: Daisy Lopez, M.S. – University of Miami
Co-author: Amy G. Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D. – University of Miami
Presenter: Amy G. Weisman de Mamani, Ph.D. – University of Miami
Co-author: Merranda M. McLaughlin, M.S. – University of Miami
Co-author: Salman S. Ahmad, M.S. – University of Miami
Co-author: Daisy Lopez, M.S. – University of Miami
Co-author: Genesis Saenz, BA – U. of Miami
Co-author: Alex Piquero, Ph.D. – U. of Miami
Co-author: Maha McCain, MFA – U. of Miami
Presenter: Emily E. Carol, Ph.D. – McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Presenter: Emma Parrish, M.S. – San Diego State University / University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
Co-author: Cara Pozun, M.a., LMFT – VA San Diego Healthcare System
Co-author: Samantha Chalker, PhD – VA San Diego Healthcare System
Co-author: Camila Martinez-Ceren, B.S. – VA San Diego Healthcare System
Co-author: Christen Shriver, B.S. – VA San Diego Healthcare System
Co-author: Jillian Carter, B.S. – VA San Diego Healthcare System / University of California San Diego
Co-author: Brandon Ferragut, B.S. – VA San Diego Healthcare System
Co-author: Avery Quynh, B.S. – UCSD Department of Psychiatry
Co-author: Vanessa Scott, B.S. – UCSD Department of Psychiatry
Co-author: Emily Treichler, Ph.D. – University of California, San Diego and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
Co-author: Eric Granholm, PhD – UCSD
Co-author: Dimitri Perivoliotis, PhD – VA San Diego Healthcare System / University of California San Diego
Co-author: Neal Doran, Ph.D. – VA San Diego Healthcare System, University of California, San Diego
Co-author: Colin Depp, PhD – VA San Diego Healthcare System / University of California San Diego
Co-author: Blaire Ehret, PhD – VA San Diego Healthcare System