Associations between internalised stereotypes of psychosis and emotional dysfunction in people with psychosis not taking antipsychotic medication.

This study explores relationships between internalised stereotypes (IS) and emotional dysfunction in people with psychosis who are not taking antipsychotic medication. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data for 66 participants were tested for relationships between IS, emotional dysfunction and insight at baseline and three months. IS and insight at baseline were compared between those with psychological and other causal models of psychosis. High levels of IS were associated with depression and social anxiety at baseline. Internalised stereotypes contributed to the variance in depression over time. Participants who reported a psychological causal model for their psychotic experiences had significantly lower levels of stigma. Findings support a stigma model of emotional dysfunction in people with psychosis replicating previous findings in an antipsychotic free group. Research is required to demonstrate effective interventions for IS in those with psychosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]