Relations between changes in safety behavior, paranoid ideations, cognitive biases, and clinical characteristics of patients with a psychotic disorder over time

M Berkhof*, E C D van der Stouwe, C N W Geraets, R M C A Pot-Kolder, M van der Gaag, W Veling

*Corresponding author voor dit werk

OnderzoeksoutputAcademicpeer review

21 Downloads (Pure)

Samenvatting

BACKGROUND: Safety behaviors, both positive (maladaptive coping behavior) and negative (avoidance behavior), are used by people with paranoid delusions to avoid perceived threats. Safety behaviors contribute to the persistence of paranoid delusions by preventing disconfirmation of threat beliefs and may influence other psychiatric symptoms. This study investigated how changes in safety behaviors are related to changes in paranoid ideation, social anxiety, depression, cognitive biases and self-esteem over time.

METHODS: This study included 116 patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) and at least moderate levels of paranoid ideations (GTPS >40).The data were collected as part of a multi-center randomized controlled trial where patients were randomized to VR-CBT (n = 58) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 58). Assessments were completed at baseline (T0), after three months (T3) and after six months (T6). For all variables, change scores between T0 and T3 and T3 and T6 were calculated and Pearson correlations between change scores were computed.

RESULTS: A decrease in total safety behavior was related to diminished paranoid ideation, social anxiety, and depression. No significant temporal associations were found between changes in safety behavior and changes in cognitive biases and self-esteem. Similar but less robust results were found for respectively negative safety behavior and positive safety behavior.

CONCLUSION: Dropping safety behavior can be specifically targeted in behavioral interventions. Whereas there appears to be a relation with reduction in anxiety, paranoia, and depressive symptoms, changes in safety behavior do not seem to align with changes in cognitive thinking processes.

Originele taal-2English
Pagina's (van-tot)98-103
Aantal pagina's6
TijdschriftSchizophrenia Research
Volume272
Vroegere onlinedatum29-aug.-2024
DOI's
StatusPublished - okt.-2024

Vingerafdruk

Duik in de onderzoeksthema's van 'Relations between changes in safety behavior, paranoid ideations, cognitive biases, and clinical characteristics of patients with a psychotic disorder over time'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

Citeer dit