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Perceptions of attenuated psychosis in a diverse sample of undergraduates
Author(s) -
Trask Christi L.,
Kameoka Velma A.,
Schiffman Jason,
Cicero David C.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.12710
Subject(s) - psychosis , vignette , helpfulness , psychology , psychiatry , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , perception , clinical psychology , mental illness , mental health , social psychology , neuroscience
Aim Prior to the release of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, experts in the field of psychosis research considered including a psychosis high‐risk syndrome—attenuated psychosis syndrome—as a formal diagnosis. Opponents argued that such a diagnosis may increase the risk of stigmatization of individuals whose symptoms often remit. Although previous research has examined provider perceptions of attenuated psychosis syndrome, little work has focused on lay perceptions. Methods A total of 455 college students read three vignettes, each depicting a character with a different level of psychotic disorder (attenuated psychosis syndrome, schizophrenia or no psychosis). Following each vignette, participants responded to questions assessing: (1) identification of the character as mentally ill, (2) stigmatizing attitudes and (3) beliefs regarding the helpfulness of potential treatments. Results Compared to a character with no psychosis, participants identified the attenuated psychosis syndrome character as more likely to be experiencing mental illness, but endorsed only slightly more stigmatizing attitudes. Participants tended to rate psychological types of treatment as more helpful than other types for an attenuated psychosis syndrome character. Conclusions Non‐expert undergraduates appear to view attenuated psychosis symptoms as indicative of mental illness, though not as severe as schizophrenia symptoms. The minimal level of stigma endorsement indicates that college students may not be especially likely to spontaneously stigmatize peers with attenuated psychosis syndrome.