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Psychological Medicine Apr 2023Globally, the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created an interpersonally threatening context within which other people have become a source of possible...
BACKGROUND
Globally, the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created an interpersonally threatening context within which other people have become a source of possible threat. This study reports on the development and validation of a self-report measure of pandemic paranoia; that is, heightened levels of suspicion and mistrust towards others due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
An international consortium developed an initial set of 28 items for the Pandemic Paranoia Scale (PPS), which were completed by participants from the UK ( = 512), USA ( = 535), Germany ( = 516), Hong Kong ( = 454) and Australia ( = 502) using stratified quota sampling (for age, sex and educational attainment) through Qualtrics and translated for Germany and Hong Kong.
RESULTS
Exploratory factor analysis in the UK sample suggested a 25-item, three-factor solution (persecutory threat; paranoid conspiracy and interpersonal mistrust). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the remaining combined sample showed sufficient model fit in this independent set of data. Measurement invariance analyses suggested configural and metric invariance, but no scalar invariance across cultures/languages. A second-order factor CFA on the whole sample indicated that the three factors showed large loadings on a common second-order pandemic paranoia factor. Analyses also supported the test-retest reliability and internal and convergent validity.
CONCLUSION
The PPS offers an internationally validated and reliable method for assessing paranoia in the context of a pandemic. The PPS has the potential to enhance our understanding of the impact of the pandemic, the nature of paranoia and to assist in identifying and supporting people affected by pandemic-specific paranoia.
Topics: Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Pandemics; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; COVID-19; Translating; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34879896
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721004633 -
Psychiatry Research Aug 2018Consistent with a continuum approach to mental health, a growing body of research has established that paranoia occurs in the general population. The...
Consistent with a continuum approach to mental health, a growing body of research has established that paranoia occurs in the general population. The stress-vulnerability model would predict an association between environments high in threat and the presence of state paranoia, even in those with low dispositional trait paranoia. The present research examines whether urban cycling, a naturalistic environment high in interpersonal threat, is associated with state paranoia - operationalised as an explicit perception that other road users intend the agent harm. 323 members of the general population who regularly cycled in London completed measures of state and trait paranoia, anxiety, depression and stress. The majority of the general population sample (70%) reported experiencing state paranoia during urban cycling, and there was no association between state paranoia and trait paranoia. Reported state paranoia was higher during urban cycling than when using the London underground (a lower threat environment) and reported state paranoia on the underground was associated with trait paranoia. The findings are consistent with the stress-vulnerability model of everyday paranoia.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anxiety; Bicycling; Depression; Female; Humans; London; Male; Middle Aged; Paranoid Disorders; Perception; Stress, Psychological; Urban Population; Young Adult
PubMed: 29609986
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.035 -
Journal of Psychiatric Research Jul 2022Previous research has indicated that lifetime body image concerns are associated with increased odds of paranoid ideation. In this study, we sought to replicate and...
Previous research has indicated that lifetime body image concerns are associated with increased odds of paranoid ideation. In this study, we sought to replicate and extend this finding by exploring how paranoia relates to different aspects of body image concern using a comprehensive, cross-sectional design. Women without a mental health diagnosis (n = 119) completed online questionnaires assessing paranoia, shape and weight concerns, and figure ratings for how they "think" their body looks and how they "feel" in their body. Participant's "actual" figure ratings were estimated from height and weight; discrepancy scores were then calculated for "actual-think" and "actual-feel" figure ratings. Correlational analyses, and mediation models testing paranoia as a mediator between "actual-feel" and shape and weight concerns, were conducted. Paranoia was significantly correlated with increased shape and weight concerns, and with "feeling" larger. Paranoia significantly mediated paths from feeling larger to increased shape or weight concerns. There were no significant associations of paranoia with "actual-think" ratings. Limitations include that height and weight data could not be objectively confirmed, and only women were included in the study. Further research is needed to understand mechanisms by which paranoia may influence shape and weight concerns and vice versa, and how "feeling" larger may feed paranoia. Future research should investigate these relationships among clinical eating disorder groups.
Topics: Body Image; Body Weight; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emotions; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Humans; Paranoid Disorders
PubMed: 35594600
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.007 -
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric... Aug 2014Persecutory delusions are a central psychotic experience, at the severe end of a paranoia spectrum in the general population. The aim of the review is to provide an... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Persecutory delusions are a central psychotic experience, at the severe end of a paranoia spectrum in the general population. The aim of the review is to provide an introduction to the understanding of persecutory delusions, highlight key putative causal factors that have the potential to be translated into efficacious treatment, and indicate future research directions.
METHODS
A narrative literature review was undertaken to highlight the main recent areas of empirical study concerning non-clinical and clinical paranoia.
RESULTS
Six main proximal causal factors are identified: a worry thinking style, negative beliefs about the self, interpersonal sensitivity, sleep disturbance, anomalous internal experience, and reasoning biases. Each has plausible mechanistic links to the occurrence of paranoia. These causal factors may be influenced by a number of social circumstances, including adverse events, illicit drug use, and urban environments.
CONCLUSIONS
There have been numerous replicated empirical findings leading to a significant advance in the understanding of persecutory delusions, now beginning to be translated into cognitive treatments. The first trials specifically focussed on patients who have persecutory delusions in the context of psychotic diagnoses are occurring. Initial evidence of efficacy is very promising.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Anxiety; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Culture; Delusions; Female; Humans; Internal-External Control; Male; Middle Aged; Paranoid Disorders; Psychotic Disorders; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia, Paranoid; Severity of Illness Index; Thinking
PubMed: 25005465
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-014-0928-7 -
Schizophrenia Bulletin Jul 2023Game theory paradigms, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma Game (PDG), have been used to study nonclinical paranoia, though research using clinical populations has been...
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS
Game theory paradigms, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma Game (PDG), have been used to study nonclinical paranoia, though research using clinical populations has been scarce. We test our novel theoretical model that schizophrenia leads to competitiveness in interpersonal interactions, and that this link is serially mediated by trait paranoia, state paranoia, and distrust.
STUDY DESIGN
In this quasi-experimental study, individuals with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses with current persecutory delusions (n = 46) and a nonclinical control group (n = 43) played the PDG, and completed measures of trait paranoia, state paranoia, and distrust.
STUDY RESULTS
Individuals with schizophrenia competed more in the PDG than the control group. Supporting our theoretical model, all direct effects were significant: schizophrenia was associated with higher trait paranoia (H1); trait paranoia predicted state paranoia in the PDG (H2); state paranoia in the PDG predicted distrust of the opponent in the PDG (H3); and distrust predicted competition in the PDG (H4). The hypothesized indirect effect of schizophrenia on competition in the PDG via trait paranoia, state paranoia, and distrust was supported in a serial mediation model (H5).
CONCLUSIONS
The findings make clear theoretical and methodological contributions. We provide the first evidence for a theoretical process model by which schizophrenia leads to competitiveness in interpersonal interactions via trait paranoia, state paranoia, and distrust. Game theory paradigms, and the PDG in particular, are important for advancing theory and research on paranoia as it occurs in both clinical and nonclinical populations.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Paranoid Disorders; Delusions; Interpersonal Relations
PubMed: 36912015
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad021 -
Soins. Psychiatrie 2015The major mental disorders which are most likely to lead to dangerous acting out are adult psychoses (schizophrenia and paranoia) and severe mood disorders (major... (Review)
Review
The major mental disorders which are most likely to lead to dangerous acting out are adult psychoses (schizophrenia and paranoia) and severe mood disorders (major depressive episodes and mania). Good knowledge of the symptomatology of these pathologies and their identification can help to anticipate and prevent much of the violence which people with these disorders may inflict on others or themselves. After mental assessment, those who commit wrongful and criminal acts may be ruled to be criminally irresponsible. They are then handed over to the relevant health care authorities for treatment for their mental disorders.
Topics: Acting Out; Bipolar Disorder; Comorbidity; Dangerous Behavior; Depressive Disorder, Major; Humans; Insanity Defense; Mental Disorders; Paranoid Disorders; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology; Suicide; Violence; Suicide Prevention
PubMed: 25751907
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2024Paranoia is relatively common but can lead to significant distress, impairment and need for care. Digital technologies offer a valuable extension to service provision... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Paranoia is relatively common but can lead to significant distress, impairment and need for care. Digital technologies offer a valuable extension to service provision and are increasingly being integrated into healthcare. This systematic review evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of digitally enhanced psychological assessments and treatments for paranoia across the paranoia continuum (PROSPERO: CRD42023393257).
METHODS
Databases PsychINFO, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched until 12 June 2023; the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) quality assessment tool evaluated studies; and a narrative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven studies met inclusion criteria (n = 3457, 23 assessment and 4 treatment, 2005-2023, most in Europe). Technologies included virtual reality (VR, n = 23), experience sampling methodology (ESM, n = 2), an app (n = 1) and a combination of VR and ESM (n = 1). Assessments involved monitoring paranoia under various virtual conditions or in everyday life. Treatments were generally integrated with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which involved using VR to test out threat beliefs and drop safety behaviours or using an app to support slowing down paranoid thinking. EPHPP ratings were strong (n = 8), moderate (n = 12) and weak (n = 7).
CONCLUSIONS
Digitally enhanced assessments and treatments showed promising acceptability, feasibility and treatment effectiveness. Limitations of studies include small sample sizes, lack of comparison groups and long-term data and limited randomised controlled trials. Results support the potential future integration of VR in the assessment of paranoia and show promise for treatments such as CBT, although further clinical trials are required. Investigation of other technologies is limited.
Topics: Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
PubMed: 38940680
DOI: 10.1002/cpp.3019 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2023Social anxiety and paranoia often co-occur and exacerbate each other. While loneliness and negative schemas contribute to the development of social anxiety and paranoia...
Social anxiety and paranoia often co-occur and exacerbate each other. While loneliness and negative schemas contribute to the development of social anxiety and paranoia separately, their role in the development of the two symptoms co-occurring is rarely considered longitudinally. This study examined the moment-to-moment relationship between social anxiety and paranoia, as well as the effects of loneliness and negative schemas on both experiences individually and coincidingly. A total of 134 non-clinical young adults completed experience sampling assessments of momentary social anxiety, paranoia, and loneliness ten times per day for six consecutive days. Participants' negative-self and -other schemas were assessed with the Brief Core Schema Scale. Dynamic structural equation modelling revealed a bidirectional relationship between social anxiety and paranoia across moments. Loneliness preceded increases in both symptoms in the next moment. Higher negative-self schema was associated with a stronger link from paranoia to social anxiety; whereas higher negative-other schema was associated with a stronger link from social anxiety to paranoia. Our findings support the reciprocal relationship between social anxiety and paranoia. While loneliness contributes to the development of social anxiety and paranoia, negative self and other schemas appear to modify the relationships between the two symptoms.
Topics: Young Adult; Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Loneliness; Anxiety
PubMed: 38008774
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47912-0 -
The British Journal of Clinical... Nov 2022Attenuated symptoms of psychosis are a core feature of At-Risk Mental States. However, subthreshold levels of paranoia are also common among nonpsychosis populations. At...
OBJECTIVES
Attenuated symptoms of psychosis are a core feature of At-Risk Mental States. However, subthreshold levels of paranoia are also common among nonpsychosis populations. At present, little is known about whether the processes underpinning the experience of paranoid ideation in high-risk youth differ as a consequence of meeting At-Risk Mental States (ARMS) for psychosis criteria.
METHODS
This study utilized path analysis techniques to examine the relationships between schematic beliefs, negative affect and the experience of paranoia for two groups: a group meeting criteria for ARMS (n = 133) and a group presenting with emerging complex mental health difficulties who did not meet the criteria for ARMS (n = 137).
RESULTS
While the ARMS group displayed significantly greater maladaptive schematic beliefs and more severe symptomatology, the associations between schematic beliefs, symptoms of negative affect and paranoia did not differ as a consequence of ARMS status.
CONCLUSIONS
While meeting the ARMS criteria is associated with experiencing more maladaptive cognitions and more negative symptomatology among at-risk youth, the associations between these cognitive beliefs and symptoms may be similar for youth who do not meet ARMS. These findings have implications for broadening the scope of at-risk/high-risk and for developing effective interventions for young people presenting with emerging difficulties.
Topics: Adolescent; Cognition; Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Psychotic Disorders; Risk Factors
PubMed: 35762490
DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12373 -
Zhurnal Nevrologii I Psikhiatrii Imeni... 2023To unite within the framework of a single clinical entity (based on the model of hypochondriacal paranoia) phenomena of the somatopsychotic and hypochondriacal range,...
OBJECTIVE
To unite within the framework of a single clinical entity (based on the model of hypochondriacal paranoia) phenomena of the somatopsychotic and hypochondriacal range, which, in accordance with modern systematics, are classified as various categories of psychosomatic, affective disorders and personality disorders.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The sample for analysis consisted of 29 patients (with the diagnosis of delusional disorder (ICD-10; F22.0 in ICD-10), 10 men (34.5%) and 19 women (64.5%), the average age was 42.9±19.9 years; men - 10 nab. (34.5%), women - 19 nab. (64.5%). The average duration of the disease iswas 9.4±8.5 years. The psychopathological method was used as the main one.
RESULTS
The article forms an alternative concept of somatic paranoia based on the model of hypochondriacal paranoia. The fundamental difference between the construct of somatic paranoia is an obligate connection between somatopsychic and ideational disorders. Somatopsychic (coenesthesiopathic) symptoms do not exist as an independent (equivalent to the structure of somatic clinical syndromes) dimensions and are formed exclusively with the participation of ideational phenomena.
CONCLUSION
In accordance with the presented concept, coenesthesiopathic symptoms within the framework of somatic paranoia act as a somatic equivalent of delusional disorders.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Paranoid Disorders; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Personality Disorders; International Classification of Diseases; Syndrome; Delusions
PubMed: 37141123
DOI: 10.17116/jnevro20231230426