-
Visualizing threat and trustworthiness prior beliefs in face perception in high versus low paranoia.Schizophrenia (Heidelberg, Germany) Mar 2024Predictive processing accounts of psychosis conceptualize delusions as overly strong learned expectations (prior beliefs) that shape cognition and perception. Paranoia,...
Predictive processing accounts of psychosis conceptualize delusions as overly strong learned expectations (prior beliefs) that shape cognition and perception. Paranoia, the most prevalent form of delusions, involves threat prior beliefs that are inherently social. Here, we investigated whether paranoia is related to overly strong threat prior beliefs in face perception. Participants with subclinical levels of high (n = 109) versus low (n = 111) paranoia viewed face stimuli paired with written descriptions of threatening versus trustworthy behaviors, thereby activating their threat versus trustworthiness prior beliefs. Subsequently, they completed an established social-psychological reverse correlation image classification (RCIC) paradigm. This paradigm used participants' responses to randomly varying face stimuli to generate individual classification images (ICIs) that intend to visualize either facial prior belief (threat vs. trust). An independent sample (n = 76) rated these ICIs as more threatening in the threat compared to the trust condition, validating the causal effect of prior beliefs on face perception. Contrary to expectations derived from predictive processing accounts, there was no evidence for a main effect of paranoia. This finding suggests that paranoia was not related to stronger threat prior beliefs that directly affected face perception, challenging the assumption that paranoid beliefs operate on a perceptual level.
PubMed: 38509135
DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00459-z -
The Journal of Analytical Psychology Apr 2024In his book Aion, Jung describes something like a quasi-Hegelian progressive historical realization of the Self in a perspective similar to Fernand Braudel's longue...
In his book Aion, Jung describes something like a quasi-Hegelian progressive historical realization of the Self in a perspective similar to Fernand Braudel's longue durée history. This article deals with a similar perspective, as it tries to focus on what we may call a "cultural complex" yet within its unfolding in historical time and belonging not to just one specific cultural group, but to a large cultural basin, which we may indicate as the "West". This complex marks the birth and development of modernity. The depth, pervasiveness and duration of this cultural complex permeates the lives and psychologies of all of those that are part of it. Therefore, every analytical project must take into account the underlying emotional, epistemic and social field within which this complex constellates. One of the main features of this (trans)cultural complex, strictly connected with the progressive fragmentation of the self and the transformation of the numinosum with its meaning-giving force, is paranoia. This article analyses the historical and cultural features that produce paranoia and fragmentation and determine paranoid symptoms and attitudes.
Topics: Humans; Paranoid Disorders; Emotions
PubMed: 38500344
DOI: 10.1111/1468-5922.12986 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.568942.].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.568942.].
PubMed: 38487583
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1366548 -
European Archives of Psychiatry and... Mar 2024The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to worsening mental health across the globe. The pandemic may have been especially impactful on those experiencing heightened psychosis...
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to worsening mental health across the globe. The pandemic may have been especially impactful on those experiencing heightened psychosis spectrum symptomatology given greater pre-pandemic social isolation and increased vulnerability to stress. Yet, few studies exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceptions of social relationships and mental health have sampled individuals high in psychosis spectrum symptomatology, including those with psychosis spectrum disorders. Utilizing a mixed transdiagnostic community sample enriched for psychotic spectrum disorders, this longitudinal study investigated whether perceptions of social relationships and psychiatric symptoms changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether pandemic-related impacts were associated with social perceptions and symptomatology, and whether paranoid ideation was related to perceptions of the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic impacts were not uniform, with participants reporting a range of adverse impacts including poorer health-related behaviors, difficulties fulfilling basic needs, and medical related challenges. Results indicated that compared to pre-pandemic assessments, perceived rejection and hostility increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who experienced more pandemic-related impacts reported less social support, more social distress, greater negative affect, and greater paranoid ideation. Paranoid ideation was related to more negative perceptions of the government's response to the pandemic. These findings demonstrate the importance of assessing individual differences in pandemic-related impacts and the clinical consequences of such impacts. Results also suggest that those high in paranoid ideation may be reluctant to engage in government recommended protective health behaviors to limit the spread of COVID-19.
PubMed: 38478156
DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01777-0 -
Development and Psychopathology Mar 2024There is a general consensus that personality disorders (PDs) share a general factor (g-PD) overlapping with the general factor of psychopathology (p-factor). The...
There is a general consensus that personality disorders (PDs) share a general factor (g-PD) overlapping with the general factor of psychopathology (p-factor). The general psychopathology factor is related to many social dysfunctions, but its nature still remains to some extent ambiguous. We posit that hostile attributions may be explanatory for the factor common for all PDs, i.e., interpersonal problems and difficulty in building long-lasting and satisfying relationships of all kinds. Thus, the main objective of the current project was to expand the existing knowledge about underlying factors of g-PD with regard to hostile attributions. We performed a cross-sectional study on a representative, community sample of Poles ( = 1031). Our hypotheses were primarily confirmed as hostile attributions predicted p-factor. However, the relation was positive only for hostile attributions related to ambiguous situations involving relational harm and physical harm done by female authorities and negative in case of hostile attributions in situations involving physical harm done by peers. Additionally, paranoia-like thoughts strongly related to hostile attributions and independently predicted g-PD. The results contribute to the current discussion on the nature of the g-PD, confirm that hostile attributions and paranoia are a crucial aspect of personality pathology, and indicate the importance of working on these cognitions in the course of therapeutic work.
PubMed: 38465372
DOI: 10.1017/S0954579424000506 -
Cureus Feb 2024Vasoplegia, the demonstration of persistently low systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and resistant hypotension in the presence of a normal cardiac index despite...
The Use of Methylene Blue in Conjunction With Hydroxocobalamin and Multiple Pressors to Treat Severe Vasoplegia in a Patient Due to Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity: A Case Report.
Vasoplegia, the demonstration of persistently low systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and resistant hypotension in the presence of a normal cardiac index despite aggressive resuscitation attempts, is a serious clinical diagnosis that requires prompt treatment to prevent patient morbidity and mortality. Currently, treatment of vasoplegia involves treatment with vasopressors such as vasopressin, norepinephrine, and hydroxocobalamin. However, some evidence suggests that in addition to this treatment regimen, the addition of methylene blue may result in a reduction in overall norepinephrine equivalent vasopressor requirements, increased mean arterial pressure, and an improved clinical course. Here, we report the case of a 64-year-old male patient who presented to the ED after being found unresponsive and covered in emesis at home. The patient's presentation was complicated by worsening dyspnea, hypotension, and hemodynamic instability, requiring intubation and admission to the ICU for management of undifferentiated shock of unclear etiology and acute respiratory failure. Urine studies were consistent with a diagnosis of vasoplegia due to dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker toxicity, which was confirmed by pill counting of his home medications in the setting of recent paranoia and depression. The patient was treated aggressively with vasopressors, including vasopressin, phenylephrine, and epinephrine, as well as a combination of hydroxocobalamin and methylene blue. He was also started on a calcium and insulin drip. Upon initiation of non-catecholamine agents for vasoplegia, his clinical course quickly improved, and he was weaned from all vasopressors. He regained hemodynamic stability, was successfully extubated, evaluated by psychiatry, and discharged from the hospital in a stable condition on day 15 with the continuation of outpatient psychiatric services.
PubMed: 38465145
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53778 -
Cureus Feb 2024This comprehensive review explores the intricate relationship between security technologies and mental health. Security technologies, including physical security,... (Review)
Review
This comprehensive review explores the intricate relationship between security technologies and mental health. Security technologies, including physical security, cybersecurity, and surveillance measures, are integral components of our modern world, designed to protect individuals, organizations, and society from various threats. While they are vital in enhancing safety, they also have profound implications for mental well-being. The review delves into the positive impacts of security technologies, including their capacity to enhance personal safety, reduce anxiety and fear, and instill a sense of security. However, it also reveals the negative consequences, such as privacy invasion, surveillance-related stress, paranoia, and ethical concerns, which can erode mental health. User perception and trust are central to understanding how individuals experience security technologies. The review emphasizes the importance of ethical guidelines, user education, and technological advancements in mitigating negative impacts. By embracing an ethical-by-design approach, empowering users, and promoting public awareness, a balanced equilibrium between security and mental health can be achieved. The conclusion highlights the significance of ongoing research and interdisciplinary collaboration to navigate this intricate relationship effectively. By prioritizing ethical considerations and fostering a dialogue that values security and individual well-being, we can ensure a safer and more mentally healthy future in our technologically interconnected world.
PubMed: 38455776
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53664 -
Psychological Medicine Mar 2024Pre-diagnostic stages of psychotic illnesses, including 'clinical high risk' (CHR), are marked by sleep disturbances. These sleep disturbances appear to represent a key...
BACKGROUND
Pre-diagnostic stages of psychotic illnesses, including 'clinical high risk' (CHR), are marked by sleep disturbances. These sleep disturbances appear to represent a key aspect in the etiology and maintenance of psychotic disorders. We aimed to examine the relationship between self-reported sleep dysfunction and attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) on a day-to-day basis.
METHODS
Seventy-six CHR young people completed the Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) component of the European Union Gene-Environment Interaction Study, collected through PsyMate® devices, prompting sleep and symptom questionnaires 10 times daily for 6 days. Bayesian multilevel mixed linear regression analyses were performed on time-variant ESM data using the package in R. We investigated the day-to-day associations between sleep and psychotic experiences bidirectionally on an item level. Sleep items included sleep onset latency, fragmentation, and quality. Psychosis items assessed a range of perceptual, cognitive, and bizarre thought content common in the CHR population.
RESULTS
Two of the seven psychosis variables were unidirectionally predicted by previous night's number of awakenings: every unit increase in number of nightly awakenings predicted a 0.27 and 0.28 unit increase in feeling unreal or paranoid the next day, respectively. No other sleep variables credibly predicted next-day psychotic symptoms or vice-versa.
CONCLUSION
In this study, the relationship between sleep disturbance and APS appears specific to the item in question. However, some APS, including perceptual disturbances, had low levels of endorsement amongst this sample. Nonetheless, these results provide evidence for a unidirectional relationship between sleep and some APS in this population.
PubMed: 38450445
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291724000400 -
Psychopharmacology Bulletin Mar 2024Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), a class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) commonly known as "spice," has rapidly gained popularity and become the most ubiquitous NPS on...
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), a class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) commonly known as "spice," has rapidly gained popularity and become the most ubiquitous NPS on the illegitimate drug market. SCs, unlike natural cannabis (NC), are not controlled by international drug conventions, posing a significant risk to public health. These substances are easily accessible, relatively inexpensive, and challenging to detect in routine drug screenings. The existing literature provides strong evidence of an association between NC use and psychosis, but there is significantly less data on SC psychosis. We present a clinical case report of a 51-year-old African American female with no known psychiatric history who was admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit after reported paranoia and altered mental status for the preceding six days. During hospitalization, she exhibited disorganization, persecutory delusions, extreme agitation, and bizarre behaviors that included the concealment of a set of stolen keys in her vagina, necessitating an ethics consult. After consideration of differentials, the patient was diagnosed with substance-induced psychotic disorder secondary to SC. The patient was stabilized on 3 mg Risperidone at bedtime. After 16-day hospitalization, she reached her baseline and later revealed that she had recently smoked SC for the first time. The primary goal of this case is to highlight the sequelae of SC-associated psychosis. A SC-associated psychosis could drastically vary from NC and is often undetectable on a typical UDS, which may result in a lifelong primary psychotic disorder misdiagnosis.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Psychotic Disorders; Delusions; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Hospitalization; Cannabinoids
PubMed: 38449474
DOI: No ID Found -
Psychopharmacology May 2024Synthetic cathinones (SC), commonly referred to as "bath salts", are stimulants resembling the natural alkaloid cathinone found in the khat plant. These substances have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
RATIONALE
Synthetic cathinones (SC), commonly referred to as "bath salts", are stimulants resembling the natural alkaloid cathinone found in the khat plant. These substances have the potential to induce serious health risks such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and agitation which can lead to substance-induced psychotic disorders. Despite growing concerns, there is a limited understanding of the association between SC consumption and the devolvement of such psychopathologies.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review to investigate the frequency of substance-induced psychotic disorder (SIPD) and associated conditions in humans following synthetic cathinone consumption. We qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed SC exposure cases.
RESULTS
A total of 32 studies were included, with a diverse range of demographics, synthetic cathinone types, and consumption patterns. The proportion of individuals developing psychotic symptoms was reported at 0.380 (Random-effects model, 95% CI 0.289 - 0.475). Additionally, the significant heterogeneity in diagnostic approaches limited our ability to provide a precise estimate of prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS
Synthetic cathinone consumption is associated with the risk of developing psychotic symptoms as indicated by the prevalence of hallucinations and/or delusions. Due to the lack of information on classifying factors, particularly duration of symptoms, we are unable to conclude synthetic cathinone-induced psychosis. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanism linking synthetic cathinone consumption and psychosis. This review underscores the urgency of addressing the growing health risks posed by synthetic cathinone use. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of proper quantification of psychotic symptoms through scales and reporting of classification criteria to accurately diagnose SIPD.
Topics: Humans; Synthetic Cathinone; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Substance-Related Disorders; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Hallucinations
PubMed: 38446172
DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06569-x