Youth With Psychosis-Spectrum Experiences: Stigma and Equity Issues
Psychotic experiences exist on a spectrum, ranging from subclinical experiences or psychosis-risk states (e.g., seeing a shadow out of the corner of one’s eye) to more severe and diagnosable psychotic symptoms (e.g., seeing fully formed figures that may cause significant distress). The onset of psychosis-spectrum experiences is often during adolescence and young adulthood, and research supports that early identification and intervention—involving comprehensive, individualized services—can save lives. However, minoritized youth and families often contend with significant mental health care disparities that can prevent access to, and full engagement in, such services. In this webinar, Dr. DeLuca will cover the basics of culturally sensitive psychosis-spectrum screening and provide actionable steps for providers, followed by additional clinical applications related to intersectional stigma and equity issues in this work.
About the Presenter
Joseph S. DeLuca, PhD (he/him/his), is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Fairfield University, and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. DeLuca is a licensed psychologist (NY) with expertise in youth mental health, psychosis-spectrum experiences and disorders, and stigma. His research is aimed at understanding intersectional stigma and addressing equity issues in services for youth with psychosis-spectrum experiences.
Continuing Education Information
1 CE Credit, Instructional Level: Intermediate
1 Contact Hour (New York Board of Psychology)
Learning Objectives:
- Define psychosis-risk states and first-episodes of psychosis among youth.
- Utilize two screening tools to assess youth psychosis-spectrum experiences.
- Describe three clinical strategies to address intersectional stigma or broader equity issues when working with youth who have psychosis-spectrum experiences and their families.
Conflicts of Interest/Disclosures
To the best of his knowledge, Dr. DeLuca does not have any conflicts of interest. However, here are two disclosures he would like to make just for full transparency:
- Currently involved with several federally funded early-stage psychosis grants (R34MH122500 [consultant], R34MH128502 [co-investigator], R01MH130354 [co-investigator]).
- JHSP Consulting Editor
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Webinar start time is 2:00pm ET/1pm CT/12pm MT/11am PT