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. 2022 Nov;7(4):375-379.
doi: 10.1037/sah0000417. Epub 2022 Oct 13.

Race Moderates the Relation between Internalized Stigma and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Youth with Psychosis-Risk Syndromes and Early Psychosis

LeeAnn Akouri-Shan  1 , Samantha Y Jay  1 , Joseph S DeLuca  2 , Emily Petti  3 , Mallory J Klaunig  3 , Pamela Rakhshan Rouhakhtar  1 , Elizabeth A Martin  3 , Gloria M Reeves  4 , Jason Schiffman  3
Affiliations

Race Moderates the Relation between Internalized Stigma and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Youth with Psychosis-Risk Syndromes and Early Psychosis

LeeAnn Akouri-Shan et al. Stigma Health. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth on the psychosis spectrum. Internalized mental health stigma is one risk factor for suicide that may be particularly salient for youth with psychosis-risk syndromes and early psychosis. Among this population, Black youth may face exposure to racism-related stressors that may exacerbate the negative effects of internalized stigma. This study examined whether internalized stigma and race interact to predict suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) in a help-seeking sample of Black and White adolescents with psychosis-risk syndromes and early psychosis. Findings suggest that Black youth with early psychosis spectrum disorders may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of internalized stigma as they pertain to STB. Internalized stigma may therefore represent an important treatment target in suicide prevention efforts among this population.

Keywords: clinical high risk; early psychosis spectrum; internalized stigma; race; suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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