Pylons ablaze: Examining the role of 5G COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and support for violence.

Amid increased acts of violence against telecommunication engineers and property, this pre-registered study (N = 601 Britons) investigated the association between beliefs in 5G COVID-19 conspiracy theories and the justification and willingness to use violence. Findings revealed that belief in 5G COVID-19 conspiracy theories was positively correlated with state anger, which in turn, was associated with a greater justification of real-life and hypothetical violence in response to an alleged link between 5G mobile technology and COVID-19, alongside a greater intent to engage in similar behaviours in the future. Moreover, these associations were strongest for those highest in paranoia. Furthermore, we show that these patterns are not specific to 5G conspiratorial beliefs: General conspiracy mentality was positively associated with justification and willingness for general violence, an effect mediated by heightened state anger, especially for those most paranoid in the case of justification of violence. Such research provides novel evidence on why and when conspiracy beliefs may justify the use of violence.

Paranoid Ideation Without Psychosis Is Associated With Depression, Anxiety, and Suicide Attempts in General Population.

This study aimed to characterize the association between paranoid ideation without psychosis (PIP) and suicide attempts in a general population. A total of 12,532 adults were randomly selected as the study sample through one-person-per-household method. Subjects completed a face-to-face interview. Among 12,532 subjects, 471 (3.76%) met criteria for the PIP group. The PIP group was younger with more divorced/widowed/separated and lower income than the non-PIP group. The PIP group showed more than fivefold higher lifetime suicide attempt (LSA) rates and ninefold multiple attempt rates than the non-PIP group. Among PIP symptoms, "spouse was being unfaithful" showed the strongest association with LSA (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.49; 95% confidence interval, 2.95-6.85). Major depressive disorder (MDD) in combination with PIP was associated with a higher risk of LSA (AOR, 15.39; 95% confidence interval, 9.63-24.59) compared with subjects without MDD or PIP. In conclusion, PIP, especially "doubting spouse," was significantly associated with LSA. PIP in combination with comorbid MDD showed higher risk of LSA than subjects without PIP or MDD.

Adolescent Paranoia: Prevalence, Structure, and Causal Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence can be a challenging time, characterized by self-consciousness, heightened regard for peer acceptance, and fear of rejection. Interpersonal concerns are amplified by unpredictable social interactions, both online and offline. This developmental and social context is potentially conducive to the emergence of paranoia. However, research on paranoia during adolescence is scarce. METHOD: Our aim was to examine the prevalence, structure, and probabilistic causal mechanisms of adolescent paranoia. A representative school cohort of 801 adolescents (11-15 y) completed measures of paranoia and a range of affective, cognitive, and social factors. A Bayesian approach with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) was used to assess the causal interactions with paranoia. RESULTS: Paranoid thoughts were very common, followed a continuous distribution, and were hierarchically structured. There was an overall paranoia factor, with sub-factors of social fears, physical threat fears, and conspiracy concerns. With all other variables controlled, DAG analysis identified paranoia had dependent relationships with negative affect, peer difficulties, bullying, and cognitive-affective responses to social media. The causal directions could not be fully determined, but it was more likely that negative affect contributed to paranoia and paranoia impacted peer relationships. Problematic social media use did not causally influence paranoia. CONCLUSIONS: There is a continuum of paranoia in adolescence and occasional suspicions are common at this age. Anxiety and depression are closely connected with paranoia and may causally contribute to its development. Paranoia may negatively impact adolescent peer relationships. The clinical significance of paranoia in adolescents accessing mental health services must now be established.

Treinta métodos para destruir la creatividad de los candidatos a psicoanalistas / Thirty ways to destroy the creativity of psychoanalytic candidates / Trente méthodes pour détruire la créativité des candidats a psychanalystes

El autor examina aspectos formales de la formación psicoanalítica que provienen de fomentar o inhibir la creatividad en el trabajo de los candidatos. Cita treinta características de los institutos psicoanalíticos que inhiben la creatividad de los candidatos en su trabajo y que, indirectamente, arrojan luz sobre problemas de la formación psicoanalítica que requieren nuestra atención. Tales características incluyen el hacer, sistemáticamente, más lento el progreso institucional de los candidatos; la enseñanza repetitiva e incuestionable de los artículos clave de Freud; tendencias monolíticas en cuanto a los enfoques teóricos; aislamiento de los candidatos respecto de las actividades profesionales y científicas de la sociedad psicoanalítica; incremento de las relaciones jerárquicas entre los docentes del psicoanálisis; rituales de graduación; desánimo de contribuciones originales por parte de los candidatos; aislamiento intelectual de los institutos; falta de presentación de trabajos clínicos por los miembros docentes de más experiencia; descuido del estudio de las controversias relativas a la técnica psicoanalítica; características «paranoiagénicas » de la relación entre docentes respecto de los requisitos exigidos a los candidatos; el sistema «convoy» (de superprotección); descuido del estudio de los límites científicos y culturales y de las aplicaciones del psicoanálisis y efectos de los conflictos institucionales sobre la admisión de analistas en formación

The author examines formal aspects of psychoanalytic training relevant to the fostering or inhibiting of creativity in the work of candidates. He refers to thirty features of psychoanalytic institutes that inhibit candidates' creativity and, by implication, illustrate problems in psychoanalytic education that require our attention. These features include systematic slowing clown of institutional progression of candidates, repetitive and unquestioning teaching of key papers by Freud, monolithic tendencies regarding theoretical approaches, isolation of candidates from the professional and scientific activities of the psychoanalytic society, accentuation of the hieratical relations among the psychoanalytic faculty, graduation rituals, discouragement of original contributions by candidates, intellectual isolation of institutes, lack of full presentation of clinical work by senior members of the faculty, neglect of studies of controversies regarding psychoanalytic technique, "paranoiagenic" features of the relationship among faculty and rega.rding requirements far candidates, the "convoy" system, neglect of explorat1on of the sc1ent1fic and cultural boundaries and applications of psychoanalysis and the eff ects of institutional conflicts around the appointment of training analysts

L' auteur examine des aspects formels de la formation psychanalytique venant a promouvoir ou inhiber la créativité dans le travail des candidats. Il cite trente caractéristiques des instituts psychanalytiques qui inhibent la créativité des candidats dans leur travail et qui, indirectement, mettent l' accent sur les problemes de la formation psychanalytique qui exigent notre attention. Ce sont des caractéristiques telles que rendre, systématiquement, plus lent le processus institutionnel des candidats; l' enseigne~e?t répétitif et indiscutable des articles dé de Freud; des tendances monohth1ques en ce qui concerne les approches théoriques; l'isolement des candidats concernant les activités professionnelles et scientifiques de la Société Psychanalytique; l' augmentation des relations hiérarchiques entre les enseignant.s de la psychanalyse; rites de remise de diplomes; découragement de contnbutions originales de la part des candidats; isolement intellectuel des instituts; manque de présentations de travaux cliniques par les Membres enseignants plus expérimentés; négligence de l' étude des différends relatifs a la technique psychanalytique; caractéristiques «parano'iagéniques» de la relation entre les enseignants concernant les requis exigés aux candidats; le systeme «conboy» (de surprotection); négligence de l' étude des limites scientifiques et culturelles et des applications de la psychanalyse; et effets des conflits institutionnels sur l' admission des analystes en formation

Maternal symptoms of depression and paranoid ideation can be predictive of the onset of eating disorders in early adolescents offspring: a nine-year longitudinal study

Studies in the Developmental Psychopathology framework have demonstrated the maladaptive influence of maternal depression on offspring emotional-behavioral functioning. Moreover, many Authors have suggested that the chronicity and timing of maternal depression can be crucial aspects predictive of specific maladaptive outcomes in children such as Eating Disorders in early adolescence. Longitudinal studies in the field have usually focused on small clinical samples and covering short periods of time, typically from early childhood to toddlerhood. The present longitudinal study was aimed at investigating the stability of children and mother's psychopathological symptoms across different ages (2, 5, 8 years) in a community sample, and also at evaluating the capacity of these psychopathological problems to identify individuals at risk for the onset of eating disorders in adolescence. Results showed that both children's and mother's symptoms, assessed at different ages, can contribute to identify adolescents at risk for the onset of eating disorders. Moreover, among mothers' symptoms, only depression and paranoid ideation, which showed a high stability over time, gave a significant contribution to the categorization of youth at risk for eating disorders. Our study adds to the literature because, not only we confirmed the predictive power of general psychopathological maternal risk on offspring mental health, but we also found the effect of two specific symptomatic configurations: depression and paranoid ideation

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Mindfulness-based stress reduction in adolescents with mental disorders: a randome / Reducción del estrés basada en mindfulness en adolescentes con trastornos mentales: un ensayo clínico aleatorio

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is a strong movement to implement mindfulness interventions with young people. The objective of this randomised clinical trial was to assess the potential effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme for adolescent outpatients in mental health facilities in Cordoba, Spain. METHOD: A total of 101 adolescents aged 13-16 years old, receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment for various disorders, were eligible for the study. The participants' scores on mindfulness, self-esteem, perceived stress, state-trait anxiety and other psychological symptoms were examined at two time-points. Eighty adolescents completed the study (MBSR+TAU group = 41; TAU group = 39). RESULTS: The MBSR+TAU group showed a statistically significant decrease in anxiety state compared to the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group. No statistically significant differences were found between groups on the other scores, but the intervention was observed to have a greater impact on the MBSR+TAU group than in the TAU group, especially in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, paranoia and perceived stress. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that MBSR may be a useful adjunct treatment for adolescents in mental health facilities

ANTECEDENTES: actualmente, existe un fuerte movimiento respecto a la implantación de las intervenciones de mindfulness con adolescentes. El objetivo de este ensayo clínico fue evaluar el efecto potencial de un programa de reducción del estrés basado en la atención plena (MBSR) para pacientes ambulatorios adolescentes en los servicios de salud mental de Córdoba, España. MÉTODO: un total de 101 adolescentes (13-16 años) con trastornos heterogéneos que recibían tratamiento psicológico o psiquiátrico fueron seleccionados para participar en el estudio. Las puntuaciones de los participantes en mindfulness, autoestima, estrés percibido, ansiedad estado-rasgo y otros síntomas psicológicos fueron evaluados en dos momentos. Ochenta adolescentes completaron el estudio (grupo-MBSR+TAU = 41, grupo-TAU = 39). RESULTADOS: el grupo MBSR+TAU muestra una disminución estadísticamente significativa en ansiedad-estado comparado con el grupo de tratamiento habitual (grupo-TAU). No hay diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos en el resto de puntuaciones, pero hemos encontrado un mayor impacto de la intervención en el grupo MBSR+TAU que en el grupo TAU, especialmente en la reducción de los síntomas de depresión, ansiedad, paranoia y estrés percibido. CONCLUSIÓN: estos resultados sugieren que MBSR puede ser un tratamiento complementario útil para los adolescentes en los servicios de salud mental

Virtual-reality-based cognitive behavioural therapy versus waiting list control for paranoid ideation and social avoidance in patients with psychotic disorders: a single-blind randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with psychotic disorders have persistent paranoid ideation and avoid social situations because of suspiciousness and anxiety. We investigated the effects of virtual-reality-based cognitive behavioural therapy (VR-CBT) on paranoid thoughts and social participation. METHODS: In this randomised controlled trial at seven Dutch mental health centres, outpatients aged 18-65 years with a DSM-IV-diagnosed psychotic disorder and paranoid ideation in the past month were randomly assigned (1:1) via block randomisation to VR-CBT (in addition to treatment as usual) or the waiting list control group (treatment as usual). VR-CBT consisted of 16 individual therapy sessions (each 1 h long). Assessments were done at baseline, after treatment (ie, 3 months from baseline), and at a 6 month follow-up visit. The primary outcome was social participation, which we operationalised as the amount of time spent with other people, momentary paranoia, perceived social threat, and momentary anxiety. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial was retrospectively registered with ISRCTN, number 12929657. FINDINGS: Between April 1, 2014, and Dec 31, 2015, 116 patients with a psychotic disorder were randomly assigned, 58 to the VR-CBT group and 58 to the waiting list control group. Compared with the control, VR-CBT did not significantly increase the amount of time spent with other people at the post-treatment assessment. Momentary paranoid ideation (b=-0·331 [95% CI -0·432 to -0·230], p<0·0001; effect size -1·49) and momentary anxiety (-0·288 [-0·438 to -0·1394]; p=0·0002; -0·75) were significantly reduced in the VR-CBT group compared with the control group at the post-treatment assessment, and these improvements were maintained at the follow-up assessment. Safety behaviour and social cognition problems were mediators of change in paranoid ideation. No adverse events were reported relating to the therapy or assessments. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that the addition of VR-CBT to standard treatment can reduce paranoid ideation and momentary anxiety in patients with a psychotic disorder. FUNDING: Fonds NutsOhra, Stichting tot Steun VCVGZ.

Interpersonal sensitivity in those at clinical high risk for psychosis mediates the association between childhood bullying victimisation and paranoid ideation: A virtual reality study.

BACKGROUND: Experience of bullying victimisation in childhood and heightened interpersonal sensitivity have been independently linked to the clinical high risk for psychosis. AIM: To examine the potential mediating effect of interpersonal sensitivity in explaining the link between childhood bullying victimisation and real-time paranoid ideation in adult participants at clinical high risk for psychosis. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study data were collected for 64 individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. Measures included history of bullying victimisation, interpersonal sensitivity and state paranoid ideation following exposure to a social virtual reality environment. The virtual reality scenario was a London Underground journey. RESULTS: Path analysis indicated that interpersonal sensitivity fully explained the significant association between severe bullying victimisation in childhood and paranoid ideation in the clinical-high risk group. Based on AIC criteria the best model selected was the full mediation model: severe bullying→interpersonal sensitivity→state paranoid ideation. The results suggest that severity of bullying is more important than frequency of bullying in explaining state paranoid ideation. CONCLUSIONS: The significant role played by interpersonal sensitivity in the association between being bullied in childhood and paranoid ideation in the clinical high risk group suggests that this could become a target for intervention.

[Terrorism, youth, ideals and paranoia]. / Terrorisme, jeunesse, idéaux et paranoïa.

Adolescence is a period of initiation during which individuals learn to free themselves from the hold of their impulses. Fanaticism prevents this process: the subject regresses into a paranoid-type sectarian and murderous way of functioning. The fanaticism of the adolescent could thereby be related to a distorted spiritual search for his or her purpose.

Psychotic-like experiences and happiness in the English general population.

BACKGROUND: Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) have been associated with a variety of adverse outcomes but how they affect happiness in individuals with PLE is unknown. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the association between PLEs and happiness, and the factors that may influence this association. METHODS: Nationally representative data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey including adults aged ≥ 16 years was analyzed. The Psychosis Screening Questionnaire was used to assess past 12-month PLE. Individuals who endorsed at least one of the following were considered to have any PLE: thought control, paranoia, strange experiences, auditory hallucinations. Happiness (3-point scale) was assessed with a validated question with higher scores indicating lower levels of happiness. The association between PLE and happiness was assessed by multivariable ordinal logistic regression. Mediation analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Among the 7363 individuals included in the analysis, the prevalence of any PLE increased with decreasing levels of happiness [very happy (2.3%), fairly happy (5.4%), not too happy (14.9%)]. This was also shown in the multivariable analysis adjusted for sociodemographic factors and stressful life events (from very happy to not too happy: OR = 2.41; 95%CI = 1.86-3.12). Mediation analysis showed that anxiety disorders explained the largest proportion of the association (38.8%) followed by depressive episode (28.5%), insomnia (21.9%), disability (16.5%), pain (12.5%), social support (10.0%), and physical health conditions (6.0%). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design limits causal inference. CONCLUSION: Interventions to identify and address conditions that may have a negative impact on happiness in individuals with PLE may be important to improve their well-being.

Delusions in first-episode psychosis: Principal component analysis of twelve types of delusions and demographic and clinical correlates of resulting domains.

Although delusions represent one of the core symptoms of psychotic disorders, it is remarkable that few studies have investigated distinct delusional themes. We analyzed data from a large sample of first-episode psychosis patients (n=245) to understand relations between delusion types and demographic and clinical correlates. First, we conducted a principal component analysis (PCA) of the 12 delusion items within the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS). Then, using the domains derived via PCA, we tested a priori hypotheses and answered exploratory research questions related to delusional content. PCA revealed five distinct components: Delusions of Influence, Grandiose/Religious Delusions, Paranoid Delusions, Negative Affect Delusions (jealousy, and sin or guilt), and Somatic Delusions. The most prevalent type of delusion was Paranoid Delusions, and such delusions were more common at older ages at onset of psychosis. The level of Delusions of Influence was correlated with the severity of hallucinations and negative symptoms. We ascertained a general relationship between different childhood adversities and delusional themes, and a specific relationship between Somatic Delusions and childhood neglect. Moreover, we found higher scores on Delusions of Influence and Negative Affect Delusions among cannabis and stimulant users. Our results support considering delusions as varied experiences with varying prevalences and correlates.

The role of mental imagery in non-clinical paranoia.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Cognitive models of paranoia incorporate many of the processes implicated in the maintenance of anxiety disorders. Despite this, the role of mental imagery in paranoia remains under-researched. The current study examined the impact of a self-imagery manipulation in people with high non-clinical paranoia. METHODS: We used a mixed design with one between-subjects variable (type of self-imagery) and one within-subjects variable (time--pre and post imagery manipulation). Thirty participants with high trait paranoia were allocated alternately to a positive or negative self-imagery condition. Scripts were used to elicit positive and negative self-imagery. All participants completed self-report state measures of paranoia, mood, self-esteem and self-compassion. RESULTS: Group by time interaction effects were found for each of the dependent variables. Positive imagery led to less state paranoia, anxiety and negative affect, and more positive affect, self-esteem and self-compassion, compared with the negative imagery group. LIMITATIONS: This was a non-blind study, limited by allocation method and a brief time-frame which did not allow us to assess longevity of effects. We recruited a relatively small and predominantly female sample of people with high non-clinical paranoia. The study did not include a neutral control condition, a low paranoia comparison group, or a manipulation check following the imagery task. CONCLUSIONS: Self-imagery manipulations may affect paranoia, mood and self-beliefs. If the findings are replicated with clinical groups, and maintained over a longer period, this would suggest that imagery-based interventions targeting persecutory delusions might be usefully examined.

More Delusions May Be Observed in Low-Proficient Multilingual Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND: Language impairment and behavioral symptoms are both common phenomena in dementia patients. In this study, we investigated the behavioral symptoms in dementia patients with different language backgrounds. Through this, we aimed to propose a possible connection between language and delusion. METHODS: We recruited 21 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to the DSM-IV and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, from the memory clinic of the Cardinal Tien Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. They were classified into two groups: 11 multilinguals who could speak Japanese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Chinese, and 10 bilinguals who only spoke Taiwanese and Mandarin Chinese. There were no differences between age, education, disease duration, disease severity, environment and medical care between these two groups. Comprehensive neuropsychological examinations, including Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI), Verbal fluency, Chinese version of the Boston naming test (BNT) and the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD), were administered. RESULTS: The multilingual group showed worse results on the Boston naming test. Other neuropsychological tests, including the MMSE, CASI and Verbal fluency, were not significantly different. More delusions were noted in the multilingual group. Three pairs of subjects were identified for further examination of their differences. These three cases presented the typical scenario of how language misunderstanding may cause delusions in multilingual dementia patients. Consequently, more emotion and distorted ideas may be induced in the multilinguals compared with the MMSE-matched controls. CONCLUSION: Inappropriate mixing of language or conflict between cognition and emotion may cause more delusions in these multilingual patients. This reminds us that delusion is not a pure biological outcome of brain degeneration. Although the cognitive performance was not significantly different between our groups, language may still affect their delusion.

Serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic therapy: association with psychopathology.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that alterations in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Imbalance in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may be related to responsivity to antipsychotic treatment. AIM: To compare serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls and to evaluate their association with psychopathology in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This clinical prospective study included 60 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy age and sex matched controls. All patients experienced an acute exacerbation of the illness (PANSS: P1 and P3 ≥ 4). Clinical evaluation of patients was performed using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale. A questionnaire for socio-demographic and clinical data collection was used. For the purposes of the study, the examined group was divided in two subgroups: responders and nonresponders. Serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels were measuredat baseline in all participants and after 3 and 6 weeks of the antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels comparedwith control group. Responders had significantly higher serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels compared with nonresponders. Responders group had significant correlation between serum cortisol and PANSS positive scale score as well as between hostility and serum DHEA-S. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Serum cortisol and DHEA-S are associated with psychopathology in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic therapy.

Spanish adaptation of the Green Paranoid Thought Scales / Adaptación española de las Escalas de Pensamiento Paranoide de Green

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to adapt and obtain validity evidence of the Spanish Green Paranoid Thought Scales (S-GPTS). METHOD: 191 Spanish people responded to S-GPTS, Peters Delusions Inventory (PDI), and measures of psychopathology. RESULTS: Principal Component Analyses on the polychoric correlation matrix identified two factors accounting for 71.0% of the cumulative variance. Cronbach alphas for S-GPTS total and its subscales were above .90 in clinical and non-clinical group. The value of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was higher for the S-GPTS (.898), than for the PDI (.859). The best S-GPTS threshold to discriminate between cases and non-cases was 92 (sensitivity, 97.35%; specificity, 65%). S-GPTS scores positively correlated with PDI and measures of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The S-GPTS has adequate psychometric properties to provide valid measures of delusional ideation in a Spanish population

ANTECEDENTES: el objetivo del presente estudio fue adaptar y obtener evidencias de validez de la versión española de las escalas de pensamiento paranoide de Green (S-GPTS). MÉTODO: 191 participantes españoles respondieron al S-GPTS, al Inventario de Delirios de Peters (PDI) y a medidas de psicopatología.RESULTADOS: el Análisis de Componentes Principales a partir de la matriz de correlaciones policóricas identificó dos factores que explicaban el 71% de la varianza acumulada. El coeficiente α de Cronbach para el S-GPTS y sus subescalas fue superior a .90 en ambos grupos. El valor del área bajo la curva ROC fue más alto para el S-GPTS (.898) que para el PDI (.859). El punto de corte que mejor discriminaba entre el grupo clínico y el no clínico fue 92 (97,35% de sensibilidad, 65% de especificidad). Las puntuaciones del S-GPTS correlacionaron positivamente con el PDI y con medidas de ansiedad y depresión. CONCLUSIONES: el S-GPTS posee propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para proporcionar una medida válida de la ideación delirante en población española

How do individuals with persecutory delusions bring worry to a close? An interpretive phenomenological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Worry is a significant problem for individuals with paranoia, leading to delusion persistence and greater levels of distress. There are established theories concerning processes that maintain worry but little has been documented regarding what brings worry to a close. AIMS: The aim was to find out what patients with persecutory delusions report are the factors that bring a worry episode to an end. METHOD: Eight patients with persecutory delusions who reported high levels of worry participated. An open-ended semi-structured interview technique and IPA qualitative analysis was employed to encourage a broad elaboration of relevant constructs. RESULTS: Analyses revealed one theme that captured participants' detailed descriptions of their experience of worry and five themes that identified factors important for bringing worry episodes to a close: natural drift, distraction, interpersonal support, feeling better, and reality testing. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with persecutory delusions report worry being uncontrollable and distressing but are able to identify ways that a period of worry can stop. The present study suggests that building on individuals' distraction techniques, reality testing ability and their social support network could be of benefit. Research is needed to identify the most effective means of bringing paranoid worries to an end.

Ayer y hoy de algunos conceptos kleinianos / Yesterday and today of some cleinian concepts

Este trabajo intenta presentar el desarrollo de algunos conceptos definitorios del modelo kleiniano: instinto de muerte y envidia, posiciones esquizo-paranoide y depresiva e identificación proyectiva, desde la conceptualización inicial de Melanie Klein hasta los autores kleinianos británicos contemporáneos, pasando por los inestimables aportes de los autores clásicos. Se presenta material clínico a la luz de estos conceptos (AU)

This essay tries to present the development of some defining concepts of the kleinian model: death instinct and envy, paranoid/schizoid and depressive positions and projective identification, from Melanie Klein´s initial conceptualization to the contemporary British Kleinian, going through the invaluabe contributions of classic author. Some case material is presented in the light of these concepts (AU)

El concepto de self y de otros en los delirios persecutorios / Beliefs about self and others in persecutory delusions

Algunas teorías psicológicas sobre los delirios persecutorios enfatizan la importancia del concepto de self y tros (Bentall, Corcoran, Howard, Blackwood y Kinderman, 2001). Sin embargo, los resultados son inconsistentes, en parte por el uso casi exclusivo de medidas explícitas centradas en la autoestima. Freeman (2007) propone que las creencias evaluativas sobre el self y los otros son el indicador más estable y mejor predictor que la autoestima, por lo que este estudio exploró las diferencias en el concepto explícito e implícito del self y de los otros entre pacientes con paranoia (n = 79), con depresión (n = 38) y un grupo control sano (n = 52). Los resultados mostraron que a nivel explícito los grupos clínicos tenían más creencias negativas del self que los controles, pero no hubo diferencias entre los grupos en las creencias negativas sobre los otros. Sólo el grupo con depresión mostró un self significativamente más negativo que el de los otros. A nivel implícito, aunque los pacientes presentaban un self más negativo que los controles, estas diferencias no fueron significativas. Tampoco se observaron diferencias entre grupos en las asociaciones negativas implícitas sobre los otros. Sin embargo, el grupo control presentó un patrón implícito opuesto al explícito en el que el índice de los otros fue significativamente más negativo que el del self. Este estudio señala la importancia de explorar el self en comparación con el concepto de los otros en diferentes dimensiones del procesamiento cognitivo

Some psychological theories about persecutory delusions emphasize the importance of the concepts of self and others (Bentall, Corcoran, Howard, Blackwood, & Kinderman, 2001). However, results are inconsistent, in part due to an almost exclusive usage of explicit measures focusing on self-esteem. Freeman (2007) has proposed that evaluative beliefs about self and others are a more stable indicator and a better predictorthan self-esteem. Then, this study explored the differences in the explicit and implicit conception of self and others between patients with paranoia (n = 79), depression (n = 38), and a healthy control group (n = 52). The results showed that at the explicit level clinical groups had more negative evaluative beliefs about the self than controls, but there were no differences in evaluative beliefs about others between groups. Only the depression group showed a significantly more negative self than others. At implicit level, although patients had a more negative self than controls, these differences were not significant. There were no differences between groups in implicit indexes of others either. However, the control group presented an implicit pattern opposite to the explicit one, in which the index of others was significantly more negative than the index self. This study highlights the importance of exploring self together with the concept of others at different dimensions of processing

The moderating effects of perceived intentionality: exploring the relationships between ideas of reference, paranoia and social anxiety in schizotypy.

INTRODUCTION: Ideas of reference (IOR), paranoia and social anxiety are features of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, which appear to be conceptually related; however, the precise nature of these relationships is unclear. These relationships may be partially explained by perceived intentionality (PI), a social-cognitive bias for perceiving other people's actions during unpleasant situations as being directed at oneself in an intentionally malicious manner. Our primary aim was to examine the moderating role of PI on the relationships between IOR and paranoia, and between IOR and social anxiety amongst individuals with psychometrically defined schizotypy. METHODS: We assessed IOR, paranoia and social anxiety amongst individuals with psychometrically defined schizotypy (n = 44) and controls (n = 36) and examined the moderating effects of PI within each group. RESULTS: As hypothesised, PI moderated the relationship between IOR and paranoia such that higher PI predicted higher levels of paranoia as IOR increased. Additionally, we found that PI moderated the relationship between IOR and social anxiety such that higher PI predicted lower levels of social anxiety as IOR increased. CONCLUSION: Theoretical and practical implications are discussed including the potential for assessing PI as a proxy for paranoia when clinicians suspect a client is underreporting paranoia due to positive impression management.