An intersectional examination of the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and psychotic-like experiences: the role of other psychiatric symptoms.

Background: Racial and ethnic experiences of discrimination (EODs) are associated with numerous psychiatric symptoms, including outcomes along the psychosis spectrum; however, less is known about mechanisms by which EODs confer risk for psychotic-like experiences (PLEs; common subthreshold psychotic symptoms). Furthermore, work on gendered racism asserts that the intersection of race and gender impacts the nature of EODs experienced and, in turn, may impact the relationship between EODs and PLEs.

Aims: To utilize an intersectional lens (race and gender) to examine whether psychological correlates of EODs (post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and dissociation) mediate the EOD-PLE relationship.

Mechanisms mediating ethnoracial discrimination and suspiciousness in Asian, Black, and Hispanic United States college students.

Background: Despite the robust relationship between ethnoracial discrimination and positive psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) like subclinical suspiciousness in adulthood, the underlying mechanisms remain underexamined. Investigating the mechanisms previously implicated in trauma and positive PLEs - including negative-self schemas, negative-other schemas, perceived stress, dissociative experiences, and external locus of control - may inform whether ethnoracial discrimination has similar or distinct effects from other social stressors.

Method: We examined the indirect effects of experiences of discrimination (EOD) to suspicious PLEs and total positive PLEs through negative-self schemas, negative-other schemas, perceived stress, dissociative experiences, and external locus of control in Asian (n = 268), Black (n = 301), and Hispanic (n = 129) United States college students.

Immune and oxidative stress biomarkers in pediatric psychosis and psychosis-risk: Meta-analyses and systematic review.

Objective: While genetic and cohort studies suggest immune and reduction/oxidation (redox) alterations occur in psychosis, less is known about potential alterations in children and adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to identify immune and redox biomarker studies in children and adolescents (mean age ≤ 18 years old) across the psychosis spectrum: from psychotic like experiences, which are common in children, to threshold psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. We conducted meta-analyses when at least three studies measured the same biomarker.

Commentary: Schizophrenia prevention and prodromal psychosis in children and adolescents.

Catalan and colleagues aggregated findings related to detection, prognosis, and intervention in Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) children and adolescents through October 7, 2019 (Catalan et al., 2020). While a sufficient number of studies were available to meta-analytically summarize evidence on detection and prognosis, the authors highlight the need for more studies on interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis, in CHR-P youth.

Pennsylvania coordinated specialty care programs for first-episode psychosis: 6- and 12-month outcomes.

Aim: Pennsylvania (PA) first-episode psychosis (FEP) program evaluation is a statewide initiative, supported by the PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (PA-OMHSAS) and administered by PA Early Intervention Center/Heads Up, which evaluates fidelity and outcomes of PA Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs. Programs participate in standard computerized measures of CSC outcomes using centralized informatics. The aims of the current report are to describe implementation of this core battery for program evaluation in PA and to present 6- and 12-month outcomes.

In-session emotional expression predicts symptomatic and panic-specific reflective functioning improvements in panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy.

In panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy (PFPP), exploration and interpretation of avoided and conflicted emotions and fantasies surrounding anxiety are thought to promote panic-specific reflective functioning (PSRF), which drives panic disorder improvements. Patient emotional expression within a session may be a marker of engaged processing and experiencing of affectively charged material. Degree of in-session expressed emotion, indicating both verbal and nonverbal emotions, was examined across three early therapy sessions for prediction of subsequent outcomes.