The victimisation experience schedule: contextualising interpersonal trauma and perceived discrimination in individuals with psychotic experiences with and without a need-for-care

TL;DR

This study explores how victimization and discrimination affect people with psychotic experiences, finding that those needing care face more discrimination and less support.

Contribution

A novel instrument, the Victimisation Experiences Schedule, is introduced to assess contextual factors of victimisation in individuals with psychotic experiences.

Findings

The clinical group experienced more perceived discrimination than non-clinical and control groups.

Discrimination in the clinical group occurred earlier and lasted longer, often linked to mental health and race/ethnicity.

The clinical group reported lower social support and higher current impact of victimisation.

Abstract

Victimisation is associated with psychotic experiences (PEs) across the psychosis continuum, yet contextual factors possibly influencing outcomes have been neglected. Building on the Unusual Experiences Enquiry study (UNIQUE) showing higher childhood trauma but lower discrimination in individuals with PEs without a need-for-care, compared to those with a need-for-care, this study utilized a novel instrument to examine victimisation-related contextual factors.

Individuals from the UNIQUE study with persistent PEs with (clinical, n = 82) and without (non-clinical, n = 92) a need-for-care, and a control group without PEs (n = 83), completed the Victimisation Experiences Schedule (VES). This multidimensional instrument, comprising items from validated measures, assesses interpersonal traumas and discriminatory experiences, alongside contextual factors: impact, powerlessness, social support, age, duration, frequency, victim-perpetrator relationships, and reasons for discrimination.

There were no differences in lifetime interpersonal traumas between the clinical and non-clinical groups, with the latter reporting slightly more than controls. The clinical group experienced more lifetime perceived discrimination than the other groups. No differences emerged in impact and powerlessness at the time of victimisation; however, the clinical group reported lower positive social support and higher current impact and powerlessness for both types of victimisation. Discrimination occurred earlier and lasted longer in the clinical group than the other groups, often attributed to mental health and race/ethnicity, likely reflecting a higher proportion of racially minoritized individuals.

The results suggest an interplay between risk and protective factors around victimisation that may shape outcomes, highlighting the importance of assessing contextual factors of victimisation using comprehensive tools like the VES.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00127-025-02917-0.