Abstract

Relationships between Psychosis Symptoms, Psychosocial Factors, and Depression among Individuals in an Early Phase of Psychosis Illness

Background: Depressive symptoms are common within schizophrenia spectrum disorder populations, yet few studies have examined the various factors and symptoms relating to depression in an early phase of illness. This study examined a model of psychosocial factors (distress, peer rejection, emotional support, perceived hostility), psychosis symptoms (positive, negative, general), and depression among individuals in an early phase of p sychosis illness.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis (HCP-EP) including 183 individuals between the ages of 16 and 35 at the time of consent and met criteria for having onset of affective or non-affective psychosis within 5 years. Clinical assessments and questionnaires were administered, and data were analyzed in SPSS and MPlus.

Results: Peer rejection (p<0.05), distress (p<0.001), perceived hostility (p<0.05), and general symptoms of psychosis (p<0.001) significantly related with depression. Bivariate associations existed between all psychosocial factors and psychosis symptoms with the exception of negati ve symptoms.

Discussion: Understanding symptoms and factors that associate with depression among individuals with psychosis in an early phase of illness can allow clinicians to tailor intervention efforts to focus on distress, peer rejection, perceived hostility , and general psychosis symptoms.

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