Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Early Interv Psychiatry. 2024 Feb;18(2):165-169. doi: 10.1111/eip.13451. Epub 2023 Jul 11.
Rates of attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is unclear whether this is most evident among individuals from marginalized racial groups.
The current study evaluated APS screening data across a six-year period in the state of Georgia in the United States, spanning several years prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate interactions between time and race. Participants included 435 clinical help-seeking individuals.
The rate of individuals scoring above the APS screening cut-off was higher during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (41% vs 23%). This pandemic-related increase in APS was significant for Black, but not White or Asian participants.
Findings indicate APS are increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic among clinical help-seeking populations. Black individuals may be at greater risk for developing a psychotic disorder during the pandemic, suggesting increased need for screening, mental health monitoring, and treatment.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，减弱的精神病症状（APS）的发生率有所增加；然而，尚不清楚这在来自边缘化种族群体的个体中是否最为明显。
本研究在美国佐治亚州评估了 COVID-19 大流行前后六年期间的 APS 筛查数据，以评估时间和种族之间的相互作用。参与者包括 435 名寻求临床帮助的个体。
与大流行前相比，大流行期间评分高于 APS 筛查截止值的个体比例更高（41%对 23%）。对于黑人参与者，而不是白人或亚洲参与者，这种与大流行相关的 APS 增加具有统计学意义。
研究结果表明，在 COVID-19 大流行期间，寻求临床帮助的人群中 APS 正在增加。黑人个体在大流行期间可能更易患精神病障碍，表明需要增加筛查、心理健康监测和治疗。
