Exploring Patterns of Mentalisation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring Patterns of Mentalisation: Understanding What People Think About Themselves
IRAS ID
181473
Contact name
Catrin Fagan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Coventry University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 29 days
Research summary
The main aims of this study are to: 1) establish pattern(s) or model(s) of mentalisation and 2) explore the relationship between mentalisation and suicide-specific cognitions amongst two sample populations: i) a clinical group of people who have experience of suicidal ideations and ii) a control group of people who have not experienced suicidal ideations.
The term 'mentalisation' expresses all the different ways in which our mind processes information in order to reach meaningful interpretations (how we think and feel) about ourselves and other people. 'Suicide-specific cognitions' represent a specific pattern of deeply negative cognitions: perceptions, values and beliefs (life is unbearable, I am unlovable, problems are unsolvable) that people use in order to consistently interpret the meaning of events in their lives and which ultimately encourage suicidal thoughts/ideations. We hypothesise that the way in which people's minds process information (mentalisation) influences the formulation of suicide specific cognitions which in turn encourage suicidal ideations.
This study takes a cross-sectional survey design, employing the structured interview data gathering technique. The measuring instrument consists of ten brief fixed response psychometrically validated scales (which take approximately 35-40 minutes to complete). Participants (N=60) will be drawn from two sample populations: a 'clinical-suicidal' (N=30) and 'control-non-suicidal' (N=30) group who will be matched for age and gender.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0246
Date of REC Opinion
12 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion