Childhood experiences, beliefs about self and others and paranoia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relationship between childhood trauma, negative core schema and paranoia in people with persecutory delusions: A mediation analysis
IRAS ID
214964
Contact name
David Carmichael
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 13 days
Research summary
Research has shown that experiencing trauma during childhood significantly increases the risk of developing psychosis; however the factors that might explain this relationship are poorly understood. Psychological theories known as cognitive models of psychosis may offer a possible explanation for this relationship. These suggest that as a result of childhood trauma, individuals develop negative beliefs about themselves and other people. These beliefs are known as 'negative core schema' and are thought to make individuals more vulnerable to subsequently developing psychosis.
This study shall attempt to build upon previous research evaluating the usefulness of cognitive models of psychosis by examining how much of the relationship between childhood trauma and paranoia can be explained by 'negative core schema.' This study shall focus on people with paranoid beliefs as it is possible that the influence of 'negative core schema' may vary across different experiences of psychosis and because paranoid beliefs are the most common form of psychotic experience.
Invited to take part in this study will be individuals with a diagnosis of a psychotic spectrum disorder currently experiencing persecutory delusions. Participants will be English speaking, aged 16+ and currently in contact with mental health services in NHS Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Forth Valley or Lanarkshire. Participants will meet with the researcher for between 45 minutes and 1 hour. This may be split over two sessions if preferred. There will be an interview about their experiences of paranoia and participants may subsequently be asked to complete a further interview and three questionnaires about childhood trauma, 'negative core schema' and paranoia.
The findings of this study will help to improve our understanding of the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis. Developing this area of research has the potential to inform new or refined psychological therapies and to reduce the stigma associated with psychosis.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
17/WS/0090
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion