title: Self esteem and self agency in first episode psychosis: Ethnic variation and relationship with clinical presentation.
abstract: The impact of self esteem and Locus of Control (LoC) on clinical presentation across different ethnic groups of patients at their first psychotic episode (FEP) remains unknown. We explored these constructs in 257 FEP patients (Black n=95; White British n=119) and 341 controls (Black n=70; White British n=226), and examined their relationship with symptom dimensions and pathways to care. FEP patients presented lower self-esteem and a more external LoC than controls. Lower self esteem was associated with a specific symptoms profile (more manic and less negative symptoms), and with factors predictive of poorer outcome (longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and compulsory mode of admission). A more external LoC was associated with more negative symptoms and an insidious onset. When we explored these constructs across different ethnic groups, we found that Black patients had significantly higher self esteem than White British. This was again associated with specific symptom profiles. While British patients with lower self esteem were more likely to report delusions, hallucinations and negative symptoms, Black patients with a lower self esteem showed less disorganization symptoms. These findings suggest that self esteem and LoC may represent one way in which social experiences and contexts differentially influence vulnerable individuals along the pathway to psychosis.
authors: King׳s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King׳s College London, London, UK. Electronic address: simone.ciufolini@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Ciufolini
authors: King׳s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK.
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Morgan
authors: University of Westminster, Department of Psychology, London, UK.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Morgan
authors: Trinity College Dublin, Department of Psychiatry, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Fearon
authors: King׳s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Boydell
authors: University of West Indies, Department of Psychiatry, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors: Gerard
authors: G
authors: Hutchinson
authors: King׳s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK.
authors: Arsjme
authors: A
authors: Demjaha
authors: University of La Sapienza, Department of Psychiatry, Rome, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Girardi
authors: University of Nottingham, Department of Psychiatry, Nottingham, UK.
authors: Gill A
authors: GA
authors: Doody
authors: University of Cambridge, Department of Psychiatry, Addenbrooke׳s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors: Peter B
authors: PB
authors: Jones
authors: King׳s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Murray
authors: King׳s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King׳s College London, London, UK.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Dazzan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003702:Delusions / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D012649:Self Concept; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D006113:United Kingdom; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Clinical presentation; Ethnicity; First episode psychosis; Locus of Control; Self esteem