Racial disparities and predictors of functioning in schizophrenia
Journal article
Merritt, Carrington C., Halverson, Tate F., Elliott, Tonya, Jarskog, L. Fredrik, Pedersen, Cort A. and Penn, David L.. (2023). Racial disparities and predictors of functioning in schizophrenia. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 93(3), pp. 177-187. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000661
Authors | Merritt, Carrington C., Halverson, Tate F., Elliott, Tonya, Jarskog, L. Fredrik, Pedersen, Cort A. and Penn, David L. |
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Abstract | Black Americans are diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders at more than twice the rate of White individuals and experience significantly worse outcomes following diagnosis. Little research has examined specific factors that may contribute to worse functional outcomes among Black Americans diagnosed with schizophrenia. One approach to understanding why racial disparities emerge is to examine established predictors of functioning in this population: neurocognition, social cognition, and symptom severity. The present study aims to broaden existing literature on racial differences within these domains by (a) examining racial differences in functioning and these established predictors of functioning (i.e., neurocognition, social, and symptom severity) and (b) investigating whether cognition and symptom domains similarly predict functioning between Black and White Americans with schizophrenia. Sixty-six participants’ baseline neurocognition, social cognition, symptom severity, and functioning were assessed. Black participants demonstrated lower neurocognition scores and higher levels of disorganized symptoms relative to White participants. No racial differences in functioning or social cognition were observed. Further, race did not moderate the relationship between any of these established predictors and functioning outcomes. The largely nonsignificant differences in known predictors of functioning highlight the need to explore further domains that may be more relevant for understanding racial disparities in schizophrenia. Considering that psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia spectrum disorders often focus on cognition, these results underscore the importance of identifying whether these domains or other treatment targets may be better in addressing racial disparities in functioning. Possible areas of exploration for future work (e.g., structural factors, racism-related stress) are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record © 2024 APA, all rights reserved) |
Keywords | racial disparities; social cognition; neurocognition |
Year | 2023 |
Journal | American Journal of Orthopsychiatry |
Journal citation | 93 (3), pp. 177-187 |
Publisher | American Psychological Association |
ISSN | 0002-9432 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000661 |
PubMed ID | 36931838 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85158131768 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC10175100 |
Open access | Published as green open access |
Page range | 177-187 |
Funder | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), United States of America |
Author's accepted manuscript | License All rights reserved File Access Level Open |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 16 Mar 2023 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 30 Mar 2025 |
Grant ID | ROIMH093529 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/91827/racial-disparities-and-predictors-of-functioning-in-schizophrenia
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AM_Merritt_2023_Racial_disparities_and_predictors_of_functioning.pdf | |
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File access level: Open |
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