Exploring how neighborhood environments affect feelings of paranoia in people with psychosis
Official title: Using Geocoded Data and Virtual Neighborhood Assessments to Understand the Impact of Neighborhood Environment on Momentary Paranoid Ideation in Psychosis
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-10995148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things like crime and parks in your neighborhood can affect feelings of paranoia for people with schizophrenia, and it’s designed for individuals who experience these symptoms to share their daily experiences using their phones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2024 |
| Project end | August 10, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31MH135639-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10995148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who experience paranoid ideation as part of a psychosis spectrum disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience paranoid ideation or those with conditions unrelated to psychosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different aspects of neighborhood environments, such as crime rates and green spaces, influence feelings of paranoia in individuals with psychosis, particularly those with schizophrenia. By using geocoded data and virtual assessments, the study aims to gather real-time information on how these environmental factors impact daily experiences of paranoid ideation. Participants will provide data through mobile devices, allowing researchers to analyze the relationship between their surroundings and their mental health in a more nuanced way.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better-targeted interventions that address environmental factors contributing to paranoid thoughts in individuals with psychosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that neighborhood characteristics can significantly impact mental health, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Orth, Ryan — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Orth, Ryan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Psychosis in diverse settings across the world
This project studies how psychotic disorders show up and respond to treatment in adults with diverse backgrounds, including populations in Africa, the Caribbean, and other Global South settings.
-
Psychosis in Diverse Settings: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment Across Global South
A human-facing study will look at how psychotic disorders present and respond to treatment in adults from Africa, the Caribbean, and other Global South settings, using genetic and clinical data.
-
A new online brain-scan-style tool to spot early psychosis risk
A new online-based set of tasks and a computer model aims to identify people at high risk for developing psychosis earlier and more accurately.
-
Genetic clues for early-onset psychosis in Latino youth
This project looks at the genes of young people with early-onset psychosis and compares them with similar youths without psychosis to find genetic factors that contribute to the illness.
-
Biomarkers to tailor rehab for Veterans with schizophrenia
A clinician-scientist is developing a brain-based biomarker to guide personalized rehabilitation for Veterans with schizophrenia.
-
Computational analysis of facial expression in early psychosis
Aims to develop computer-based measures of facial expression in people at risk for or with schizophrenia to help track symptoms and guide future trials.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.