Developing New Models and Measures of Genetic and Psychological Sensitivity to the Psychosocial Environment to Understand both Risk and Resilience in Mental Health

Research project description

Mental health disorders, including psychosis-spectrum phenotypes, are expressed across a dynamic continuum from nonclinical to clinical manifestations. Transition across the continuum is driven by genetic factors (G), person factors (P), environmental exposures (E), and their interactions. Research has investigated GxE interactions in psychosis, but only from a diathesis-stress model, focusing solely on negative E. The differential susceptibility (DS) to the environment model proposes that increased reactivity to E can be better viewed as high sensitivity with pathological outcomes occurring under adverse conditions, but positive outcomes under supportive contexts (Belsky et al., 2017). That is, individuals differ in their susceptibility to E for both negative and positive exposures. Thus, some traditional risk genes for mental disorders are actually plasticity genes that confer increased reactivity to E “for worse and better” (Belsky et al., 2007). The nature of contextual factors shape ill or health outcomes, possibly in interaction with genetic risk variants that follow a diathesis-stress pattern. This project examines, for the first time, the DS model in psychosis and affective dimensions and explores whether positive E in interaction with plasticity alleles lessens psychotic features and promotes healthy outcomes. 

The main goal of this project is to examine traditional diathesis-stress GxE and novel DS models in samples of nonclinical participants showing high risk indicators (i.e., schizotypy) and early psychosis. Specifically, 1) we will develop a new Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) measure integrating positive and negative contextual factors (E) and psychological states; 2) conduct comprehensive psychometric and EMA assessments tapping positive and negative E and outcomes in both nonclinical and clinical samples; 3) use a novel polygenic approach to test the DS model; 4) test whether distinct GxE models have better fit to different outcomes; 5) investigate whether the DS model applies to nonclinical and clinical expressions of psychosis and to psychosis dimensions. 

Support for the DS model would radically challenge the dominant and narrow ‘broken brain’ model of psychosis. The finding that individuals with plasticity genes have higher risk when exposed to negative E, but also advantage to benefit from supportive E, would challenge our pessimistic views about psychosis risk and disorder. This would support positive psychiatry calls to expand our focus on decreasing symptoms to include work on resilience-building. It would critically inform preventive interventions as focusing on increasing positive factors may increase adherence, decrease stigma due to “risk status”, and decrease the likelihood of psychosis transition or poor outcomes 

Academic background / Skills

Candidates must hold a degree that allows admission to the official doctoral programme at UAB.  

Additional requirements for a stronger application are: 

• MSc or equivalent in Clinical, Developmental or Health Psychology; Neuroscience; Behavioral Genetics; Psychiatric Epidemiology or a related field. 
• Ability to integrate insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics to develop multi-level integrative models of the continuum mental health-disorders. 
• Experience in conducting groups and/or clinical interview and/or ecological momentary assessment will be valued 
• Knowledge and/or experience in the field of mental disorders will be valued 
• Good command of English 
• Strong Communication Skills (Knowledge of Spanish will be valued) 

Other skills: Ability to work in a team, critical thinking, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

• Ethical Awareness 
• Commitment to Continuous Learning 

Research group/s description

Person-Environment Interaction in Risk and Resilience for Mental Health research group integrates clinical practitioners from public mental health centers in Barcelona as well as world-leading clinical, developmental and genetics researchers. Our approach is characterized by a multi-level approach, integrating the study of person-level factors (eg, temperament-personality traits, attachment style), environmental exposures (eg, childhood maltreatment & protective factors), and genetic variability factors that moderate the impact of environmental factors on the person. We use a transdiagnostic perspective, are interested in both development-enhancement and risk-inducing environmental factors and examine both psychopathology and positive mental health outcomes (e.g., wellbeing, resilience, and creativity). 

This group has received continuous funding since its creation in 2009 and has an extensive record of training pre- and post-doctoral students (many with outstanding dissertation awards), all of whom are currently successful academics or clinical researchers. We regularly receive students from international collaborating labs which creates an enriched niche for our students.  

Informal inquiries about the position or other requirements can be addressed to neus.barrantes@uab.cat