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Forensic Science, Medicine, and... Feb 2024Wrist injuries are not uncommon in forensic routine and are usually found in the context of suicides or as a result of psychiatric illnesses, e.g., borderline disorders....
Wrist injuries are not uncommon in forensic routine and are usually found in the context of suicides or as a result of psychiatric illnesses, e.g., borderline disorders. Sharp objects (knives, broken glass, etc.) are usually used. In the case reported here, a paranoid-schizophrenic man not only injured himself with razor blades on both wrists, but he also inflicted extensive wrist bite injuries using his dental prosthesis. In addition to the severance of flexor tendons, venous vessels and the left radial artery were torn with subsequent blood loss. At the time of death, there was also acute exposure to methadone and opiates. Patients suffering from psychotic illnesses have an increased risk of committing spectacular or bizarre suicides.
PubMed: 38416381
DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00769-1 -
Journal of Autism and Developmental... Feb 2024Previous research has identified contradictory patterns in autism upon probabilistic reasoning tasks, and high levels of self-report paranoia symptoms have also been...
Previous research has identified contradictory patterns in autism upon probabilistic reasoning tasks, and high levels of self-report paranoia symptoms have also been reported. To explore this relationship, the present study assessed 64 non-autistic and 39 autistic adults on two variants of a probabilistic reasoning task which examined the amount of evidence required before making a decision and 'jumping to conclusions' (a neutral beads task and an emotionally-salient words variant). The autism group was found to require significantly more evidence before making a decision and to have significantly less jumping to conclusions than the non-autistic group. For those with relatively low levels of paranoia, the emotionally-salient variant impacted on the non-autistic group, but not the autism group.
PubMed: 38421502
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06301-w -
Journal of Medicine and Life Apr 2022Personality disorders can lead to difficult social or occupational functional processes rooted in chronic maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This study aimed...
Personality disorders can lead to difficult social or occupational functional processes rooted in chronic maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This study aimed to investigate factors of personality disorder in prisoners from the central prison of Sanandaj, Iran. We conducted a cross-sectional study, which included all prisoners in the central prison of Sanandaj, Iran. The study sample includes 343 prisoners, of which 329 were male, and 14 were female, selected by randomized multistage sampling method. Participants filled in Millon's multi-axis clinical questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, multiple logistic regression, and bootstrap analysis. There were 183 participants without personality disorders (53.4%) and 99 participants (28.9%) with cluster B personality disorders (narcissistic, histrionic, anti-social, and borderline). Male gender (OR=0.07) and elementary education level (OR=0.18) have a significant relationship with cluster A personality disorders (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal). Cluster B has a significant relationship only with the elementary education level (OR=0.27). Cluster C (avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder) has a significant relationship with male gender (OR=0.20), elementary education level (OR=0.30), unemployment (OR=2.64), theft crime types (OR=0.38) and disputes and assaults (OR=0.18). Based on these results, psychological and psychiatric interventions in prisoners are suggested.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Iran; Logistic Models; Male; Personality Disorders; Prisoners
PubMed: 35646191
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2021-0317 -
Psychiatry Research Jan 2022Paranoia is an important psychiatric symptom with a remarkable effect on daily life. Virtual reality (VR)-based treatments are influential and safe for patients with... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Paranoia is an important psychiatric symptom with a remarkable effect on daily life. Virtual reality (VR)-based treatments are influential and safe for patients with paranoia. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, and define the clinical and technical characteristics of available VR strategies for the treatment of patients with paranoia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Studies published up to 25/11/2021 reporting VR-based interventions for the treatment of patients with paranoia were reviewed in five databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus.
RESULTS
Out of 302 initial search results, eight were included in the present study based on the inclusion criteria. Six studies were randomized clinical trials with the interventions in the experimental group being based on VR, compared to routine interventions as controls. Two were before-after studies. The most commonly used hardware and software were head-mounted display and Unity3D, respectively. Interventions had a range of 1-16 sessions with follow-up durations of 0-6 months. All investigations showed positive results in the main target, including improved social participation, reduced level of anxiety, as well as diminished suspicious ideas and paranoid symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrated that VR-based interventions are effective treatments. Although the use of VR technology is limited for a variety of reasons, such as cost, it improves symptoms in patients with paranoia.
Topics: Anxiety; Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Virtual Reality; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
PubMed: 34922239
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114338 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023Although mostly considered distinct, conspiracy mentality and paranoia share conceptual similarities (e.g., persecutory content, resistance to disconfirming evidence)....
Although mostly considered distinct, conspiracy mentality and paranoia share conceptual similarities (e.g., persecutory content, resistance to disconfirming evidence). Using self-report data from a large and multinational online sample (N = 2510; from the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Germany, and Australia), we examined whether paranoia and conspiracy mentality represent distinct latent constructs in exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Utilising network analysis, we then explored common and unique correlates of paranoia and conspiracy mentality while accounting for their shared variance. Across sites, paranoia and conspiracy mentality presented distinct, yet weakly correlated (r = 0.26), constructs. Both were associated with past traumatic experiences, holding negative beliefs about the self and other people, sleep problems, and a tendency to worry. However, paranoia was related to increased negative affect (i.e., anxiety) and decreased social support, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for conspiracy mentality (i.e., decreased anxiety and depression, increased social support). Paranoia and conspiracy mentality are related but not the same constructs. Their similar and distinct correlates point to common and unique risk factors and underlying mechanisms.
Topics: Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Self Report; Interpersonal Relations
PubMed: 38123615
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47923-x -
Journal of Behavior Therapy and... Dec 2020Cognitive models of psychosis implicate interpretation biases as one of the mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of symptoms. First we measured the...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Cognitive models of psychosis implicate interpretation biases as one of the mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of symptoms. First we measured the strength of association between interpretation biases and psychosis-relevant traits. Next we manipulated these biases and quantified the effects of doing so on psychosis-relevant outcomes.
METHODS
Experiment 1 used two measures of interpretation bias in a healthy sample (n = 70). Experiment 2 used a novel cognitive bias modification procedure (CMB-pa) in individuals with moderate trait paranoia (n = 60).
RESULTS
Experiment 1 revealed that over a third of the variance in interpretation bias could be explained by the combined effect of trait measures of paranoia/psychosis. In Experiment 2, CBM-pa produced training-congruent changes in the interpretation of new ambiguous information and influenced the interpretation, attribution and distress associated with a real-life social event.
LIMITATIONS
The potentially confounding effects of elevated anxiety and depression on interpretation bias and the restricted range of outcome measures to assess the wider effects of CBM-pa.
CONCLUSIONS
These studies are consistent with interpretation biases contributing to the maintenance of paranoia. CBM-pa could next be adapted and evaluated to test its efficacy as a therapeutic intervention.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Paranoid Disorders; Psychotic Disorders
PubMed: 32505999
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2020.101575 -
Schizophrenia Research Mar 2022Paranoia is associated with significant distress and is associated with childhood trauma. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for this association is important for...
Paranoia is associated with significant distress and is associated with childhood trauma. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for this association is important for informing psychological interventions. Theoretical proposals suggest that negative schema and insecure attachment may be important mechanisms in the development of paranoia. Disorganised attachment may be particularly relevant. The current study is the first to examine whether the relationship between childhood interpersonal trauma and paranoia is mediated by disorganised attachment, and the impact of disorganised attachment on negative self and negative other schema. A large online sample of 242 people with self-reported psychosis completed measures of childhood trauma, attachment, self and other schema, paranoia and psychosis symptomatology. Path analysis indicated that childhood interpersonal trauma was associated with disorganised attachment, which in turn was associated with negative self-schema, negative other schema, and paranoia. Negative schema about others, but not self, was associated with paranoia. Disorganised attachment and negative other schema fully mediated the relationship between trauma and paranoia. Negative other schema partially mediated the association between disorganised attachment and paranoia. Results were found when controlling for depression, hallucinations and age. Results suggest that interventions that aim to modify disorganised attachment patterns and negative schema about others can potentially alleviate the impact of trauma on paranoia. Findings provide justification for longitudinal studies to confirm the direction of effects, and intervention studies that aim to manipulate disorganised attachment and negative schema about others and observe the impact of this on paranoia.
Topics: Adverse Childhood Experiences; Hallucinations; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Paranoid Disorders; Psychotic Disorders
PubMed: 35123337
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.01.043 -
Schizophrenia Research. Cognition Sep 2022Paranoid ideation is a core feature of psychosis and is associated with impaired social functioning. Severity of paranoia can fluctuate across time as symptoms wax and...
BACKGROUND
Paranoid ideation is a core feature of psychosis and is associated with impaired social functioning. Severity of paranoia can fluctuate across time as symptoms wax and wane; however, no study has systematically investigated how this intra-individual variability in paranoia may relate to social impairments and social functioning.
METHODS
Fifty-five patients with DSM-5 diagnoses and recent paranoia were followed for up to one year and completed the suspiciousness/persecution section (P6) of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) on a monthly basis to monitor fluctuations in paranoia. Categorical changes between paranoid and non-paranoid status were monitored and tallied. Participants self-reported current paranoia and anxiety levels as well as social functioning when demonstrating paranoia changes.
RESULTS
Most patients showed changes between paranoid categories (60%). Individuals with no paranoia change showed higher current paranoia and lower independence-competence subscores of the Birchwood Social Functioning Scale (SFS) compared with those with one change. Current paranoia and state anxiety explained significant variance in the prosocial activities subscore of SFS, and importantly, paranoia changes accounted for variance above and beyond these effects. Individuals with higher current paranoia participated less in prosocial activities, however those with higher paranoia variability were more involved in social activities. Similarly, individuals with more paranoia variability demonstrated better overall social functioning as measured by the averaged SFS total score.
CONCLUSION
Paranoia fluctuation is prevalent across time, and both paranoia severity and variability impact social functioning, in that lower levels of paranoia severity and higher levels of paranoia variability are associated with better interpersonal functioning.
PubMed: 35620385
DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2022.100258 -
Journal of Abnormal Psychology Feb 2021Paranoia is the exaggerated belief that harm will occur and is intended by others. Although commonly framed in terms of attributing malicious intent to others, recent...
Paranoia is the exaggerated belief that harm will occur and is intended by others. Although commonly framed in terms of attributing malicious intent to others, recent work has explored how paranoia also affects social decision-making, using economic games. Previous work found that paranoia is associated with decreased cooperation and increased punishment in the Dictator Game (where cooperating and punishing involve paying a cost to respectively increase or decrease a partner's income). These findings suggest that paranoia might be associated with variation in subjective reward from positive and/or negative social decision-making, a possibility we explore using a preregistered experiment with U.S.-based participants (n = 2,004). Paranoia was associated with increased self-reported enjoyment of negative social interactions and decreased self-reported enjoyment of prosocial interactions. More paranoid participants attributed stronger harmful intent to a partner. Harmful intent attributions and the enjoyment of negative social interactions positively predicted the tendency to pay to punish the partner. Cooperation was positively associated with the tendency to enjoy prosocial interactions and increased with participant age. There was no main effect of paranoia on tendency to cooperate in this setting. We discuss these findings in light of previous research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Intention; Male; Middle Aged; Paranoid Disorders; Punishment; Reward; Social Interaction; Social Perception; United States; Young Adult
PubMed: 33271038
DOI: 10.1037/abn0000647 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2019Recent studies have shown that worry and related negative metacognitions are characteristic in generalized anxiety and paranoia respectively. However, most of these...
Recent studies have shown that worry and related negative metacognitions are characteristic in generalized anxiety and paranoia respectively. However, most of these studies did not take into account common co-occurrence of anxiety and paranoia, and longitudinal modelling of the role of worry and metacognitions on the development of anxiety and paranoia is rare. The current study aimed at examining the bidirectional longitudinal relationship between anxiety and paranoia, as well as the importance of worry and metacognitions in the development of these symptoms. Our validated sample consisted of 2291 participants recruited from universities, among whom 1746 participants (76.21%) completed online questionnaires at baseline and at one year, reporting levels of anxiety, paranoia, worry, and negative metacognitions. Structural equation modeling analyses, followed by path comparisons, revealed that anxiety and paranoia mutually reinforced each other over time. Negative metacognitions, rather than worry itself, were contributive to the development of both symptoms over time. Negative metacognitions showed bi-directional relationships with anxiety over the time period assessed and showed uni-directional relationships with paranoia. Clinical implications of our findings are discussed.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Affective Symptoms; Anxiety; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Metacognition; Paranoid Disorders; Psychological Distress; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Universities; Young Adult
PubMed: 31605005
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51280-z