Speaker Discusses Schizophrenia and Race on Feb. 18

02/04/2010 

Diane Gooding, a national speaker and author on the topic of schizophrenia, will discuss the relationship between race, ethnicity and this mental disorder on Thursday, Feb. 18, at SUNY Cortland.

Gooding, a professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology at University of Wisconsin-Madison and a visiting professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, will present “Identifying Individuals at Risk for Schizophrenia: Is Race a Factor?” at a Black History Month Sandwich Seminar at noon in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge. The talk is free and open to the public.

Also on Feb. 18, Gooding will speak at a dinner hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU) planned from 6-8 p.m. She will discuss her successes and struggles in higher education in a talk titled “Success and Challenges: A Black Woman’s Story in Higher Education.” The dinner program is free and open to the campus community. Reservations are requested by contacting BSU President Bari Smith.

Gooding, a consulting editor with the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, is the author of numerous articles on risk factors and precursors of schizophrenia. Her research and publications on the topic extend more than 15 years.

Schizophrenia, one of the most severe forms of psychopathology, is an important public health concern, according to Gooding. A chronic disorder, the disease is associated with considerable mental illness, lifetime disability and lower subjective quality of life. 

“While some have asserted that racial/ethnic minority status serves as a risk factor for schizophrenia, a review of the research suggests that the relationship between race, ethnicity and schizophrenia is more nuanced,” said Gooding. “After describing the ways in which schizophrenia is diagnosed, I will review what we currently know about the relationship between race and schizophrenia. Then I will identify the factors that are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia.”

Gooding received a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota, where she minored in psychophysiology. She completed her clinical psychology predoctoral internship at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn. and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social relations from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges at Harvard University.

SUNY Cortland will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with a series of events, including lectures, Sandwich Seminars, films, musical performances and the annual reception in celebration of diversity.  

For more information about Black History Month, contact Seth Asumah, Africana Studies Department, at (607) 753-2064.