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Social events may provide important cues that influence the sense of reality, including the perception that conspiracy theories are plausible. Using longitudinal panel data collected in the UK from March 2020 to December 2021, this study aims to identify whether social events influenced the strength of the association between conspiracy mentality and vaccine intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with previous research, the conspiracy mentality was a significant predictor of vaccine intentions across three-time points, but also that conspiracy mentality measured in March 2020 predicted that participants were more hesitant to the vaccines in December 2020. The primary finding was that different social events moderated the strength of the correlation between conspiracy mentality and vaccine intentions within similar participants. Conspiracy mentality became more vital to evaluate COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020, when the vaccination program was about to commence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Psychotic experiences including persecutory beliefs are elevated among immigrant and minority populations, especially when living in low ethnic density neighbourhoods (the ethnic density effect). Discrimination, victimization and experiencing a sense of 'not belonging' are hypothesized to play a role in this effect. Because a secure ethnic identity protects against poor self-esteem it may also protect against paranoia. This study explores the relationship between language proficiency (Arabic/English), in-group identity (implicit and explicit) and paranoia in female Emirati university students.Methods: Female citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Emirati college women (N = 208), reported English/Arabic language proficiencies, and performed a computerized affective priming task engineered to implicitly assess in-group (Emirati) versus out-group (American) positivity. Participants also completed self-report measures of in-group identity (MIIS), and paranoia (PaDs).Results: Arabic proficiency was negatively correlated with paranoia, as was implicit in-group positivity. Furthermore, participants reporting English language dominance, and those demonstrating an implicit out-group preference, reported the highest levels of paranoia.Limitations: The study is limited by its use of an all female sample.Conclusions: Implicit in-group attitudes and linguistic competence protect against paranoia and may help to explain the ethnic density effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Accumulated evidence over the past decade consistently demonstrates a relationship between childhood adversity and psychosis in adulthood. There is some evidence of specific associations between childhood sexual abuse and hallucinations, and between insecure attachment and paranoia. Data from the National Comorbidity Survey were used in assessing whether current attachment styles influenced the association between adverse childhood experiences and psychotic symptoms in adulthood. Hallucinations and paranoid beliefs were differentially associated with sexual abuse (rape and sexual molestation) and neglect, respectively. Sexual abuse and neglect were also associated with depression. The relationship between neglect and paranoid beliefs was fully mediated via anxious and avoidant attachment. The relationship between sexual molestation and hallucinations was independent of attachment style. The relationship between rape and hallucinations was partially mediated via anxious attachment; however this effect was no longer present when depression was included as a mediating variable. The findings highlight the importance of addressing and understanding childhood experiences within the context of current attachment styles in clinical interventions for patients with psychosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses research on the functions of attributional style and theory of mind cognitive processes in Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia patients experiencing persecution delusions (PDs). A study of Alzheimer's patients found that poor performance on theory of mind tasks was associated with incidence of PDs. No significant differences were detected in attributional style between those with and without persecutory delusions. Theory of mind skills training for AD patients is suggested.

Abstract: An influential model of hallucinations proposed by Morrison et al. (1995. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23(3), 265–280) assumes that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs lead to the misattribution of intrusive thoughts to external sources, therefore generating hallucinatory experiences. Following a comprehensive review of the literature, a series of meta-analyses was carried out to summarize the empirical findings on the association between hallucination-proneness and different metacognitive beliefs. The results of this research synthesis found little support for the existence of specific associations between hallucinations and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs. While metacognitive beliefs are robustly associated with hallucination-proneness in non-clinical studies, they were only moderately associated with hallucinations in clinical samples. Additional analyses revealed that, after controlling for the effect of comorbid symptoms, hallucination-proneness was only weakly associated with metacognitive beliefs, suggesting that the large associations observed in previous research might stem from the failure to consider the covariation between different symptoms. These findings have important implications in relation to the role of metacognitive factors in psychopathological symptoms, as well as for the implementation of metacognitive-focused cognitive behavioural techniques for the treatment of psychosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although there is clear evidence that bipolar disorder runs in families, the mechanisms by which this illness is transmitted across generations are poorly understood. In particular, there has been limited consideration of nature of the psychosocial risk factors that might be present in offspring of bipolar parents and of how these factors might increase the likelihood of transition to illness. Recent research has begun to explore psychosocial factors in both healthy and diagnosed children of bipolar parents. This review explores the findings that have been obtained to date in terms of personality, cognitive functioning, life events and family factors. Three potential theoretical frameworks are then considered which might prove fruitful for facilitating theoretically driven empirical studies in this important area. Implications for future research and therapy are noted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of the current study was to reduce the number of items in the 48-item hypomanic personality scale (HPS) and determine whether a unidimensional scale of the hypomanic trait could be derived. Previously collected HPS data from University students (n =318) were applied to the Rasch model (one-parameter item response theory). Overall scale and individual item fit statistics were used to judge fit to the model and item maps employed to determine coverage of the trait. Cronbach’s Alpha and correlations with other questionnaires pre- and post-item reduction were evaluated. Rasch analysis indicated that the original HPS was not unidimensional, had significant redundancy and differential item functioning by age and gender. An iterative process of item reduction produced a 20-item HPS (HPS-20) that retained the concepts of the original HPS and had excellent fit to the Rasch model (χ2 p =0.27). Unidimensionality of the HPS-20 was confirmed. The traditional psychometric properties of the HPS-20 and coverage of the underlying hypomanic construct were similar to the original. It was possible to derive a unidimensional measure of the hypomanic trait. Further use of the HPS-20 is encouraged as it may increase understanding of the risk factors for affective disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: This article is a synopsis of the argument outlined in my book Madness explained: Psychosis and human nature, in which I describe a new paradigm (which might be called a ‘complaint-orientated’ approach) for understanding the psychotic disorders, the most disabling forms of psychiatric illness. Despite extensive efforts to study the genetics, pathophysiology and neuropsychology of the psychoses, replicable findings have been rare. I argue that this is because the phenomena concerned have been poorly defined. Since the end of the 19th century, research into the psychoses has been dominated by the system of classification first proposed by the German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin, which assumes that the severe mental illnesses fall into discrete types such as ‘schizophrenia’ and ‘manic depression’, and that there is a clear dividing line between madness and normal functioning. However, Kraepelinian diagnoses fail all empirical tests of their validity. For example, they do not identify patients with common symptoms, with common aetiologies, who respond to specific treatments. I suggest that we therefore need to abandon psychiatric diagnoses altogether and must instead attempt to explain the specific complaints (‘symptoms’) that patients bring to our attention. These include hallucinations, delusional beliefs, thought and communication disorders, which are much more widely experienced than was previously thought (for example, about 10% of the population have experienced hallucinations). I show that recent psychological research has revealed much about the mechanisms underlying each of these complaints. For example, auditory hallucinations occur when the individual mistakes inner speech for an external stimulus, and delusions appear to be the product of abnormal inferential processes. The new approach has implications for aetiology. For example, researchers working within the Kraepelinian paradigm have often assumed that the psychoses are endogenous. However, there is compelling evidence that the risk of experiencing psychotic complaints is influenced by adverse environmental factors such as insecure attachment relations and exposure to sexual and other kinds of trauma. These associations are relatively easy to understand once the psychological mechanisms leading to specific complaints are known. When all of the psychotic complaints have been explained, there will be no ‘schizophrenia’ or ‘manic depression’ left behind awaiting explanation. The approach that I advocate is not only more scientific than the Kraepelinian approach, but also more humane. In contrast to the Kraepelinian approach, which has encouraged disrespect for patients’ experiences, it encourages us to treat patients as rational agents and to take what they say seriously. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Evidence suggests that social identities, which provide purpose and a sense of belonging to the social world, promote resilience against psychological strain and protect well-being. This is especially important in ethnic minorities, who experience exclusion and discrimination from the majority group, and in migrant populations where adverse experiences, such as prejudice, disconnection from previous identities and issues of integration into the host country, negatively impact well-being. Drawing from the social identity theory, a meta-analysis was conducted examining the influence of group memberships and sense of belonging on ethnic minority and migrant mental health (depression and anxiety). The final search on three databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) was conducted on August 9th, 2022, identifying 3236 citations before removing any duplicates within and between databases. Across the 74 studies that met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, increased social identification (ethnic, national and other types of identification) was associated with low psychological symptoms. We found that social identification is protective against common psychological disorders but with small effect sizes for depression (r = − 0.09, CI = [− 0.12; − 0.06]) and anxiety (r = − 0.08, CI [− 0.12; − 0.03]). Results are discussed with regard to the role that social context plays on ethnic minority and migrant mental health and the importance of facilitating migrant integration with the host society after displacement. • We examined the relationship between social identity and common mental disorders in ethnic minorities and migrants. • Increased social identification is linked with decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression with small effect sizes. • Seven variables significantly moderated the relationship between social identity and depression. • Four variables significantly moderated the relationship between social identity and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is amassing evidence that risky decision-making in bipolar disorder is related to reward-based differences in frontostriatal regions. However, the roles of early attentional and later cognitive processes remain unclear, limiting theoretical understanding and development of targeted interventions. Methods Twenty euthymic bipolar disorder and 19 matched control participants played a Roulette task in which they won and lost money. Event-related potentials and source analysis were used to quantify predominantly sensory-attentional (N1), motivational salience (feedback-related negativities [FRN]), and cognitive appraisal (P300) stages of processing. We predicted that the bipolar disorder group would show increased N1, consistent with increased attentional orienting, and reduced FRN, consistent with a bias to perceive outcomes more favorably. Results As predicted, the bipolar disorder group showed increased N1 and reduced FRN but no differences in P300. N1 amplitude was additionally associated with real-life risk taking, and N1 source activity was reduced in visual cortex but increased activity in precuneus, frontopolar, and premotor cortex, compared to those of controls. Conclusions These findings demonstrate an early attentional bias to reward that potentially drives risk taking by priming approach behavior and elevating reward salience in the frontostriatal pathway. Although later cognitive appraisals of these inputs may be relatively intact in remission, interventions targeting attention orienting may also be effective in long-term reduction of relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedonic response is abnormal in negative schizotypy. Using self-report methods, Applegate, El-Deredy, and Bentall (2009) reported that schizotypal anhedonia was associated with a poor capacity to savour, where savouring is the ability to mentally rehearse past, present and future pleasant experiences. A behavioural measure of savouring, the Verbal Fluency Test of Enjoyable Experiences (VFTEE), was developed, and reliability and validity were assessed. The VFTEE elicits memories and predictions of positive experiences, using ease of generation as an index of savouring ability. Sixty-seven students, who scored high and low on measures of negative schizotypy and hypomania, completed questionnaire measures of hedonic functioning. Evoked affect was assessed on four trials of the VFTEE and an incentivised card-sorting task. The VFTEE demonstrated good internal reliability. Correlation and regression analyses revealed stylistically different abnormalities in how hypomanic and negatively schizotypal groups savour behaviourally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous research suggests that negative schizotypes may be impaired in their ability to savour pleasant events (Applegate et al., 2009) and that schizophrenia patients believe that everyday tasks are excessively difficult to complete so that they attempt these tasks less frequently (MacCarthy et al., 1986; Bentall et al., 2010). It is possible that these beliefs and behaviours underpin negative symptoms such as anhedonia, avolition, apathy and associality. In the present study, 50 schizophrenia patients and 100 matched controls (half employed and half unemployed) completed self-report measures of self-efficacy and savouring. Patients reported savouring past, present and future events less than employed and unemployed groups, irrespective of mood state and I.Q. Patients also rated everyday tasks as more difficult to master. Inpatients compared to outpatients rated tasks more difficult but less important although they did not differ on the savouring measure. Abnormal judgements of difficulty and the reduced propensity to mentally rehearse past or future positive experiences to up-regulate mood could explain negative symptom patients' lack of engagement in everyday activities and eventual social withdrawal. These findings suggest the need to develop cognitive-behavioural savouring and self-efficacy interventions for patients experiencing the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] A brief self-report measure of relative deprivation in childhood is presented. [•] EFA revealed a 2 factor solution: relative deprivation and perceived social capital. [•] CFA yielded 3 factors: neighbourhood and global deprivation and social capital. [•] Concurrent validity of scores was assessed using the Index of Multiple Deprivation. [•] The utility of the measure for further research is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Reward responsiveness is abnormal in mania and the negative symptoms of psychosis. Both disorders can be examined in subclinical forms (hypomania and negative schizotypy) in analogue populations. Five hundred and seventeen students completed measures of depressive, schizotypal and hypomanic symptoms online and were tested for behavioural activation, savouring ability and ability to enjoy experiences over time. Correlation and regression techniques demonstrated unexpectedly that hypomania was not negatively correlated with negative schizotypy. The ability to savour positive events was impaired in relation to anhedonia but not in relation to hypomania, which was related to behavioural activation scores. Future research should investigate whether these findings are upheld in clinical populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between attachment, paranoid beliefs and hallucinatory experiences. Five hundred and three students completed online questionnaires, including the persecution and deservedness scale, the Launay–Slade hallucination scale, Bartholomew and Horowitz’s relationship questionnaire, Levenson’s multidimensional locus of control scale and measures of self-esteem and anticipation of threatening events. After comorbidity between paranoia and hallucinations was controlled for, insecure attachment predicted paranoia (persecution) but not hallucinations. The extent to which persecution was perceived to be deserved was predicted by low self-esteem. Negative self-esteem, anticipation of threatening events and a perception of others as powerful mediated the relationship between attachment insecurity and persecutory paranoia. The findings indicate that insecure attachment is specifically related to paranoid beliefs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper examines the relationships between service providers involved in caring for people with ‘psychosis’ in Uganda. Data from qualitative research investigating conceptualisations of ‘madness’ held by indigenous, religious and allopathic healers in urban Uganda are used to explore the attitudes of these different service providers towards each other. Case-vignettes of individuals with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder were discussed by the healers and real cases were discussed by allopathic doctors, and their discourse was analysed. The healers varied in their attitudes towards other parts of the healing context. The indigenous and religious healers were tolerant of allopathic medicine, although the religious healers were inclined to explain its success in terms of a Christian or Islamic framework. In contrast, the allopathic healers made little reference to religious healers and were ambivalent towards indigenous healers. Finally, the relationship between the religious and indigenous healers emerged as one of conflict. The religious healers negated the beliefs and methods of the indigenous healers, whilst the indigenous healers regarded indigenous spirituality and evangelical Christianity as incompatible. Historical and social psychological perspectives are used to understand these differences. There appear to be opportunities for greater dialogue between indigenous and religious healers and allopathic doctors and this could contribute to a more integrative model of care for individuals with psychotic experiences in Uganda. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigated the prevalence of persecutory, grandiose, reference, control, and religious delusions in adult clinical populations worldwide and whether they differed according to country characteristics or age, gender, or year of publication. 123 studies met inclusion criteria, across 30 countries; 102 (115 samples, n = 20,979) were included in the main random-effects meta-analysis of studies measuring multiple delusional themes (21 in a separate analysis of studies in recording a single theme). Persecutory delusions were most common (pooled point estimate: 64.5%, CI = 60.6–68.3, k = 106, followed by reference (39.7%, CI 34.5–45.3, k = 65), grandiose (28.2, CI 24.8–31.9, k = 100), control 21.6%, CI 17.8–26.0, k = 53), and religious delusions 18.3%, CI 15.4–21.6, k = 50). Data from studies recording one theme were broadly consistent with these findings. There were no effects for study quality or publication date. Prevalences were higher in samples exclusively with psychotic patients but did not differ between developed and developing countries, or by country individualism, power distance, or prevalence of atheism. Religious and control delusions were more prevalent in countries with higher income inequality. We hypothesize that these delusional themes reflect universal human dilemmas and existential challenges. • The most prevalent delusional themes are persecutory (64.5%), reference (39.7%), grandiose (28.2%), control (21.6%), and religious (18.3%). • All five types of delusions were more common in samples restricted specifically to psychotic patients. • The prevalence of different delusional themes was unaffected by sociodemographic and cultural features of the samples. • These themes may reflect affected psychosocial mechanisms that have evolved to allow humans to cope with life dilemmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine how stigma impacts on symptomatic and subjective recovery from psychosis, both concurrently and longitudinally. We also aimed to investigate whether self-esteem and hopelessness mediated the observed associations between stigma and outcomes. 80 service-users with psychosis completed symptom (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and subjective recovery measures (Process of Recovery Questionnaire) at baseline and 6-months later, and also completed the King Stigma Scale, the Self-Esteem Rating Scale and the Beck Hopelessness Scale at baseline. In cross sectional regression and multiple mediation analyses of the baseline data, we found that stigma predicted both symptomatic and subjective recovery, and the effects of stigma on these outcomes were mediated by hopelessness and self-esteem. When the follow-up data were examined, stigma at baseline continued to predict recovery judgements and symptoms. However, self-esteem only mediated the effect of stigma on PANSS passive social withdrawal. Self-esteem and hopelessness should be considered in interventions to reduce the effects of stigma. Interventions that address the current and long-term effects of stigma may positively affect outcome for people being treated for psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work has focused on the role of the environment in psychosis with emerging evidence that specific psychotic experiences are associated with specific types of adversity. One risk factor that has been often associated with psychosis is social isolation, with studies identifying isolation as an important feature of prodromal psychosis and others reporting that social networks of psychotic patients are smaller and less dense than those of healthy individuals. In the present study, we tested a prediction that social isolation would be specifically associated with formal thought disorder. 80 patients diagnosed with psychosis-spectrum disorder and 30 healthy participants were assessed for formal thought disorder with speech samples acquired during an interview that promoted personal disclosure and an interview targeting everyday topics. Social isolation was significantly associated with formal thought disorder in the neutral interview and in the salient interview, even when controlling for comorbid hallucinations, delusions and suspiciousness. Hallucinations, delusions and suspiciousness were not associated with social isolation when formal thought disorder was controlled for. Formal thought disorder is robustly and specifically associated with social isolation. Social cognitive mechanisms and processes are discussed which may explain this relationship as well as implications for clinical practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response styles theory of depression ( Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991 ) proposes three main strategies individuals employ in response to low mood: rumination, active coping (distraction and problem-solving) and risk taking. Although recent research has suggested this theory has utility in understanding the symptoms of bipolar disorder (BD), the role of these processes in conferring vulnerability to the condition is poorly understood. Twenty-three adolescent children of patients with BD and 25 offspring of well parents completed the Experience Sampling Method (ESM; Csikszentmihalyi and Larson, 1987 ) diary for six days. Longitudinal analyses were carried out to examine inter-relationships between mood, self-esteem and response styles. Increased negative as well as positive mood resulted in greater rumination in both groups. Low self-esteem triggered greater risk-taking at the subsequent time point in the at-risk group, while negative affect instigated increased active coping in the control group. In both groups, engagement in risk-taking improved mood at the subsequent time point, whilst rumination dampened self-esteem. Differential longitudinal associations between mood, self-esteem and response styles between at-risk and control children suggest early psychological vulnerability in the offspring of BD parents, with important indications for early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Research suggests that both psychosocial factors and neuropsychiatric factors are important predictors of outcome, but little research has examined their relative importance to self-rated recovery. We aim to investigate how such factors are associated with subjective judgements of recovery from psychosis. The participants comprised 122 individuals with experience of psychosis who completed measures of perceived recovery, as well as measures of psychological factors (including self-esteem, locus of control, and emotion) and psychiatric factors (including psychotic symptoms, neurocognition and insight). Measurement models developed using confirmatory factor analysis supported a hypothesis of separate recovery and negative emotion factors. Structural equation modelling showed that negative emotion and internal locus of control had a direct influence on self-rated recovery, and that positive symptoms and internal locus of control had an indirect effect on recovery, mediated via negative emotion. There did not appear to be any effect of insight, negative symptoms or neurocognitive functioning on either self-rated recovery or negative emotion. Psychosocial factors are more directly related to perceived recovery than neuropsychiatric factors. The implications of these findings are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Cognitive Style Questionnaire (CSQ) is a frequently employed measure of negative cognitive style, associated with vulnerability to anxiety and depression. However, the CSQ’s length can limit its utility in research. We describe the development of a Short-Form version of the CSQ. After evaluation and modification of two pilot versions, the 8-item CSQ Short Form (CSQ-SF) was administered to a convenience sample of adults (N =278). The CSQ-SF was found to have satisfactory internal reliability and test–retest reliability. It also exhibited construct validity by demonstrating predicted correlations with measures of depression and anxiety. Results suggest that the CSQ-SF is suitable for administration via the Internet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Hypomania is associated with impulsive decision making and risk taking, characteristics that may arise from hypersensitivity to reward. To date, the neural dynamics underlying intertemporal reward processing have neither been characterized clinically nor in the general population. Taking vulnerability to hypomania as a surrogate model of impulsivity, we utilized event-related potentials to study the neural mechanisms of delay discounting. Methods: In the first experiment, 32 participants completed an established Two Choice Impulsivity Paradigm in which free choice between immediate and delayed rewards was used to quantify impulsivity behaviorally. In the second experiment, electroencephalography was recorded while 32 separately recruited participants completed a speeded response task involving gains and losses of monetary incentives to be paid at three different delays after the experiment. Results: In the first experiment, the hypomania-prone group made significantly more immediate choices than the control group. In the second experiment, the hypomania-prone group evidenced greater differentiation between delayed and immediate outcomes in early attention-sensitive (N1) and later reward-sensitive (feedback-related negativity) components. Proneness to hypomania was also associated with greater N1 amplitude to rewards per se. Conclusions: These results indicate steeper delay discounting in hypomania at multiple stages of information processing. The N1 modulation by valence and delay suggests an attentional bias to immediate rewards, which may drive subsequent cognitive appraisal of outcomes (feedback-related negativity). These results highlight the early influence of attention on reward processing and provide support for reward dysregulation accounts of bipolar disorder. Potential implications for mindfulness training and other therapeutic interventions are highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Mania is argued to stem from the dysfunctional processing of reward. Investigation of hypomania in healthy samples has the potential to offer refined insight into the particular aspects of reward processing in mania that are dysfunctional. Method: In this study, fMRI was employed in contrasting a sample of 12 unmedicated subclinical hypomanic individuals with a sample of 12 unmedicated controls in order to investigate reward-related processing in a reinforcement-learning task. Results: Four findings in the hypomania-prone group relative to the control group supported atypical reward processing. Firstly, striatal activation that correlated with reward value and prediction error was stronger in response to cues and outcomes respectively, consistent with hypomania being related to an enhanced perception of the value of goals that may lead to reward. Secondly, value-related medial temporal activation was stronger in response to cues, suggesting that in hypomania-prone individuals, stimuli in memory were represented in accordance with their perceived value. Thirdly, these effects failed to be modulated by the actual value of outcomes, suggesting that hypomania is related to a decreased ability to discriminate between cues differing in value. Fourthly, increased insula activation in response to expected, but absent, reward was consistent with a bias towards expecting positive outcomes in decision-making. Conclusion: Together, the findings suggest that enhanced perception and representation of goal-value that nonetheless fails to discriminate on the basis of actual goal-value, coupled with a positive outcome-expectancy bias, could be causally related to insatiable and indiscriminate reward seeking in mania. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]