Frequency and correlates of maladaptive responses to paranoid thoughts in patients with psychosis compared to a population sample

TY - JOUR

T1 - Frequency and correlates of maladaptive responses to paranoid thoughts in patients with psychosis compared to a population sample

AU - Lincoln, Tania M

AU - Möbius, Carolin

AU - Huber, Martin T

AU - Nagel, Matthias

AU - Moritz, Steffen

PY - 2014/1/1

Y1 - 2014/1/1

N2 - INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to identify whether responses to paranoid thoughts distinguish patients with psychotic disorders from people in the population who have paranoid thoughts occasionally and to identify factors that are associated with and might explain the different ways of responding.METHODS: Paranoid thoughts were assessed in patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (n = 32) and a population control sample (n = 34) with the Paranoia Checklist. Responses to paranoid thoughts were assessed with the Reactions to Paranoid Thoughts Scale (RePT) and social support, self-efficacy and cognitive insight were assessed as potential correlates of the responses to paranoid thoughts.RESULTS: The patients showed significantly more depressed, physical and devaluating responses to paranoid thoughts and employed less normalising responses than the controls. The differences in normalising responses were explained by perceived social integration, whereas the differences in depressive responses were explained by the overall levels of depression and partly explained by externality and social integration.CONCLUSIONS: Maladaptive responses to paranoid thoughts could be relevant to the pathogenesis and maintenance of persecutory delusions. Interventions aimed at reducing paranoia could benefit from targeting dysfunctional responses to paranoid thoughts and by placing a stronger emphasis on treating depression and improving social integration.

AB - INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to identify whether responses to paranoid thoughts distinguish patients with psychotic disorders from people in the population who have paranoid thoughts occasionally and to identify factors that are associated with and might explain the different ways of responding.METHODS: Paranoid thoughts were assessed in patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (n = 32) and a population control sample (n = 34) with the Paranoia Checklist. Responses to paranoid thoughts were assessed with the Reactions to Paranoid Thoughts Scale (RePT) and social support, self-efficacy and cognitive insight were assessed as potential correlates of the responses to paranoid thoughts.RESULTS: The patients showed significantly more depressed, physical and devaluating responses to paranoid thoughts and employed less normalising responses than the controls. The differences in normalising responses were explained by perceived social integration, whereas the differences in depressive responses were explained by the overall levels of depression and partly explained by externality and social integration.CONCLUSIONS: Maladaptive responses to paranoid thoughts could be relevant to the pathogenesis and maintenance of persecutory delusions. Interventions aimed at reducing paranoia could benefit from targeting dysfunctional responses to paranoid thoughts and by placing a stronger emphasis on treating depression and improving social integration.

KW - Adaptation, Psychological

KW - Adult

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Cognition

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Depression

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Models, Statistical

KW - Paranoid Disorders

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Psychotic Disorders

KW - Schizophrenic Psychology

KW - Self Efficacy

KW - Self Report

KW - Thinking

U2 - 10.1080/13546805.2014.931220

DO - 10.1080/13546805.2014.931220

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 25062067

VL - 19

SP - 509

EP - 526

JO - COGN NEUROPSYCHIATRY

JF - COGN NEUROPSYCHIATRY

SN - 1354-6805

IS - 6

ER -