2 - (SYM 25) Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and Correlates in Caregivers of Young Adults with Early Psychosis

Caregiving in psychotic spectrum disorders is often fraught with stress, uncertainty, fear, feelings of loss, and, sometimes, trauma. As a result, caregivers may experience posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) or meet full criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can impair their well-being and ability to provide effective support. Unfortunately, there is little research to date characterizing PTSS in caregivers of individuals with early psychosis, especially within the United States. The current study sought to better understand post-traumatic stress in this population by: (1) characterizing the types of traumatic experiences encountered by caregivers and prevalence of PTSS; (2) investigating the relationship between PTSS and aspects of caregiver well-being including appraisals of caregiving, attitudes towards psychosis, coping styles, expressed emotion, and social support. Nineteen caregivers completed baseline surveys as part of an ongoing pilot study of a digital platform for caregivers, Altitudes. Caregivers completed a modified version of the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5) to evaluate exposure to stressful events related to caregiving. Caregivers also completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) to evaluate the frequency and severity of PTSS in the past month. Preliminary descriptive analysis indicated that the most frequently endorsed stressful events related to the caregiving role were: encountering a psychiatric hospital environment during a loved one’s admission (n = 18; 94.7%), various types of risky and unpredictable behavior by the loved one (n = 17; 89.5%), involuntary hospitalization of the loved one (n = 13; 68.4%), and the involvement of law enforcement (n = 13; 68.4%). During the worst event endorsed by caregivers, few reported their life was in danger (n = 3; 15.8%) or that they (n = 2; 10.5%) or their loved one (n = 1; 5.2%) were seriously injured. However, nearly half (n = 9; 47.4%) of surveyed caregivers reported their loved one’s life was in danger during the worst caregiving-related event. The average PCL-5 total score was 14.4 (SD = 7.8). Seven caregivers (36.8%) were identified as having probable subthreshold PTSD symptoms (e.g., meeting two or three Criteria B-E for DSM-5 PTSD) whereas one caregiver (5.3%) met full criteria on the PCL-5. Recruitment is ongoing and additional analyses are forthcoming. We will discuss the implication of these findings for future research on PTSS in caregivers as well as potential directions for treatment within broader early intervention efforts.