Research investigating the experience of paranoid, intrusive thoughts
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Research investigating the experience of paranoid, intrusive thoughts
IRAS ID
196353
Contact name
Verity Statham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Warwick
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 29 days
Research summary
Intrusive thoughts (ITs) are “repetitive thoughts, images or impulses that are unacceptable and/or unwanted” (Rachman, 1981, p. 89). Although ITs are common experiences for individuals with a range of mental health difficulties (e.g. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) there has been no research examining intrusive thoughts that relate to paranoid themes. This is despite the fact that intrusions in to awareness are described in theories of psychosis (Morrison, 2001).
This study will develop a self-report questionnaire to measure paranoid intrusive thoughts (PITs) and test out how well it can measure these experiences with approximately 275 participants, recruited from clinical and non-clinical populations. The clinical sample will be recruited from services (NHS and 1 third sector organisation) who support individuals experiencing psychosis. The non-clinical sample will be recruited from Sheffield University staff and students and on social media. Participants will be required to complete several questionnaires to measure PITs, depression, anxiety, general levels of paranoid thinking and metacognitive beliefs (these are beliefs about thought processes e.g. whether they controllable). Questionnaires can be completed on an online or paper format. It is predicted that individuals with psychosis will have more frequent and distressing PITs than the non-clinical population. The relationship between positive (e.g. my paranoid protects me) and negative metacognitive beliefs (e.g. my paranoia is dangerous) about paranoia, and the frequency and distress caused by PITs, will also be examined. To validate the newly developed PIT questionnaire, statistical analyses will be used to establish its reliability and validity.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0224
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion