MAPPS: Study of the mediators and predictors of psychosis v.4
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the mediators (mentalizing, level of self-compassion) and predictors (attachment style, mentalization errors) of positive and negative symptoms of psychosis, and borderline personality disorder traits in a first episode psychosis sample.
IRAS ID
216122
Contact name
Ali Shynien
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Integrity and Governance Manager, University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 20 days
Research summary
The ability to attribute thoughts and feelings to someone else is known in the personality disorder literature as mentalization, and in the schizophrenia literature as social cognition. Research shows this concept to be an important deficit in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder (BPD). A new self-report measure of mentalization has recently been developed which allows a more in-depth investigation to be conducted into different types of mentalizing errors. This investigation will aim to explore the relationship between mentalizing errors, early attachment experiences, the development of symptoms of psychosis, and traits of borderline personality disorder. Additionally, current research suggests negative symptoms of psychosis significantly contribute to poor outcomes at 5 and 10-year follow up in people who experience psychosis. Therefore, this study will also explore how self-compassion and mentalizing may mediate the relationship between negative symptoms of psychosis and adult attachment style, with the aim to better inform future treatment provision. This study will use a battery of self-report questionnaires taking no longer than 40 minutes to complete. The sample will be patients experiencing first episode psychosis currently being treated within early intervention services in the UK.
REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0303
Date of REC Opinion
19 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion