Stress sensitivity, negative affect, and functioning in an early psychosis clinic

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Individuals with psychotic disorders often display heightened stress sensitivity (SS) and negative affect (NA), contributing to poor functional outcomes.
• Understanding the distinct roles of SS and NA in daily functioning is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent contribution of stress sensitivity (SS) to functional impairment in patients with early psychosis.
• To compare the predictive power of the Psychological Stress Index, 9-item (PSI-9) against the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) on work and social functioning.

Main Methods:

• Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from 103 patients in an early psychosis clinic.
• The study assessed stress sensitivity (PSI-9), depressive negative affect (PHQ-9), and functional impairment (Work and Social Adjustment Scale - WSAS).

Main Results:

• The PSI-9 demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with functional impairment (WSAS), even after accounting for depressive symptoms (PHQ-9).
• The PHQ-9 partially mediated the relationship between PSI-9 and WSAS, indicating a complex interplay.
• Early childhood adversity was associated with higher PSI-9 scores in the psychosis group.

Conclusions:

• The PSI-9 is a valuable measure for assessing stress sensitivity (SS), a critical factor influencing subjective functioning in psychosis.
• Targeting stress sensitivity (SS) may offer a novel therapeutic avenue to improve functional outcomes in individuals with psychotic disorders.