title: Early traumatic experiences, perceived discrimination and conversion to psychosis in those at clinical high risk for psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is evidence to suggest that both early traumatic experiences and perceived discrimination are associated with later onset of psychosis. Less is known about the impact these two factors may have on conversion to psychosis in those who are at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis. The purpose of this study was to determine if trauma and perceived discrimination were predictors of conversion to psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 764 individuals who were at CHR of developing psychosis and 280 healthy controls. All participants were assessed on past trauma, bullying and perceived discrimination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals at CHR reported significantly more trauma, bullying and perceived discrimination than healthy controls. Only perceived discrimination was a predictor of later conversion to psychosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that CHR individuals are reporting increased rates of trauma and perceived discrimination, these should be routinely assessed, with the possibility of offering interventions aimed at ameliorating the impact of past traumas as well as improving self-esteem and coping strategies in an attempt to reduce perceived discrimination.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada. stowkowy@ucalgary.ca.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Stowkowy
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Psychiatry, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: Kristin S
authors: KS
authors: Cadenhead
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Tyrone D
authors: TD
authors: Cannon
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Long Island, NY, USA.
authors: Barbara A
authors: BA
authors: Cornblatt
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Thomas H
authors: TH
authors: McGlashan
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Diana O
authors: DO
authors: Perkins
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Larry J
authors: LJ
authors: Seidman
authors: Department of Psychiatry, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: Ming T
authors: MT
authors: Tsuang
authors: Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Elaine F
authors: EF
authors: Walker
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Scott W
authors: SW
authors: Woods
authors: Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Carrie E
authors: CE
authors: Bearden
authors: Department of Psychiatry, UCSF, San Francisco, USA.
authors: Daniel H
authors: DH
authors: Mathalon
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Addington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058445:Bullying; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012306:Risk; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clinical high risk; Perceived discrimination; Prodrome; Psychosis; Risk; Trauma