Predictive Processing in Psychosis Risk State Ver.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prediction Error Functioning in Individuals Experiencing At-risk Mental State for Psychosis
IRAS ID
194121
Contact name
Clara Humpston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Our understanding of the environment influences how we think and act, and in turn our expectations can shape the way we deal with the environment. When a mismatch or discrepancy occurs between what is expected and what is actually experienced, a ‘prediction error’ is thought to occur in the brain. Different types of prediction errors are thought to drive different yet related brain processes, which often involve making inferences about the world and ourselves. Previous research has found that some individuals with psychosis have problems with processing these error signals; such difficulties could lead to feelings of lacking control in your own actions, making associations between irrelevant ideas or finding things in your surroundings unusually attention-grabbing. In this study we are interested in finding out whether individuals with early signs of psychosis have problems with prediction error functioning and if so, what type of problem they have.
Findings from the present study could potentially benefit the early intervention of individuals at risk of developing psychosis by helping to identify cognitive and behavioural changes during the prodromal phase. Individuals from both NHS clinics and third sectors (e.g. mental health charities) who have been referred to early intervention for psychosis services will be recruited across West and South Wales, and they will undergo four behavioural tasks measuring different types of prediction error functioning (sensory, associative and reward types) as well as an extra task measuring the Jumping to Conclusions reasoning bias. In addition the participants will undergo two clinical interviews about their experiences of early symptoms of psychosis.
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
16/WA/0039
Date of REC Opinion
29 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion