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Butter S, Shevlin M, McBride O, Bentall RP, Hyland P, Leavey G, Murphy J. Functioning, symptom expression and risk along the psychosis continuum. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7407-7417. [PMID: 37092866 PMCID: PMC10719677 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The psychosis continuum implies that subclinical psychotic experiences (PEs) can be differentiated from clinically relevant expressions since they are not accompanied by a 'need for care'. METHODS Using data from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; N = 34 653), the current study examined variation in functioning, symptomology and aetiological risk across the psychosis phenotype [i.e. variation from (i) no PEs, 'No PEs' to (ii) non-distressing PEs, 'PE-Experienced Only' to (iii) distressing PEs, 'PE-Impaired' to (iv) clinically defined psychotic disorder, 'Diagnosed']. RESULTS A graded trend was present such that, compared to those with no PEs, the Diagnosed group had the poorest functioning, followed by the PE-Impaired then PE-Experienced Only groups. In relation to symptom expression, the PE-Impaired group were more likely than the PE-Experienced Only and the Diagnosed groups to endorse most PEs. Predictors of group membership tended to vary quantitatively rather than qualitatively. Trauma, current mental health diagnoses (anxiety and depression) and drug use variables differentiated between all levels of the continuum, with the exception of the extreme end (PE-Impaired v. Diagnosed). Only a few variables distinguished groups at the upper end of the continuum: female sex, older age, unemployment, parental mental health hospitalisation and lower likelihood of having experienced physical assault. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the importance of continuum-based interpretations of the psychosis phenotype and afford valuable opportunities to consider if and how impairment, symptom expression and risk change along the continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Butter
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
| | - Mark Shevlin
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
| | - Orla McBride
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
| | - Richard P. Bentall
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England
| | - Philip Hyland
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Gerard Leavey
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
| | - Jamie Murphy
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
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2
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Hinterbuchinger B, Koch M, Trimmel M, Litvan Z, Baumgartner J, Meyer EL, Friedrich F, Mossaheb N. Psychotic-like experiences in non-clinical subgroups with and without specific beliefs. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:397. [PMID: 37270507 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04876-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assuming a transdiagnostic and extended psychosis phenotype, psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and psychotic symptoms are on a phenomenological and temporal continuum between clinical and non-clinical populations. Recent research points towards differences in PLE proneness in different subgroups and clinical impact of different PLE subtypes. This study examines the prevalence of PLEs in three groups of individuals with and without specific sets of beliefs aiming to elucidate the question whether proneness to PLEs varies according to traditional versus less traditional supernatural beliefs. METHODS The anonymized 16-item version of the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) was used to assess PLEs in three groups including individuals with religious beliefs (RB), belief in esoterism and paranormal phenomena (EB), and those embedded in scientific evidence approach and scepticism towards para-scientific theories (non-believers, NB). Male and female participants between 18 and 90 years were eligible for participation. RESULTS The sample comprised 159 individuals including 41 RB individuals, 43 EB individuals, and 75 NB individuals. The mean PQ-16 score of the EB individuals (6.86 ± 4.13) was significantly higher compared to NB individuals (3.43 ± 2.99) and to RB individuals (3.38 ± 3.23) with almost twice the score (both p-values < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the PQ-16 scores of the NB group and the RB group (p = 0.935). No significant impact of age (p = 0.330) and gender (p = 0.061) was found on the PQ16-Score. Group affiliation to esoterism was associated with a higher PQ-16 score compared to group affiliation to religious beliefs (p < 0.001) and group affiliation to scepticism (p = 0.011), while the latter two did not differ significantly (p = 0.735). No significant difference was found between the three groups in the degree of distress related to the affirmatively answered PQ-16 items (p = 0.74). CONCLUSION Under the assumption of a transdiagnostic psychosis phenotype, our findings provide more insight which subgroups within non-clinical samples have a higher likelihood of reporting PLEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Hinterbuchinger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - M Koch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Trimmel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Z Litvan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - J Baumgartner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - E L Meyer
- Section for Medical Statistics, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Friedrich
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - N Mossaheb
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Heriot‐Maitland C, Vitoratou S, Peters E, Hermans K, Wykes T, Brett C. Detecting anomalous experiences in the community: The Transpersonal Experiences Questionnaire (TEQ). Psychol Psychother 2023; 96:383-398. [PMID: 36621803 PMCID: PMC10952405 DOI: 10.1111/papt.12445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is growing recognition of the value of researching anomalous experiences in the general population to aid our understanding of the psychosis continuum. There are key differences in aims, foci and epistemologies of existing measures, with varying utility for specific research designs. This study addresses gaps in the literature by developing a measure of anomalous experiences with utility for longitudinal (time-sensitive) research, and with particular reliability for people towards the upper (high scoring) end of the continuum. METHODS An online sample was recruited from the general population to provide questionnaire data for two study parts: (A) item selection and (B) psychometric evaluation. For Part A, both classical test theory and item response theory methods were used to select which items to be included from an initial pool of 57, generated from individuals with persistent anomalous experiences. For Part B, psychometric properties of the resulting measure were evaluated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and tests of reliability and validity. RESULTS Scores were provided by 532 participants, from which a 19-item scale, the Transpersonal Experiences Questionnaire (TEQ), was developed. The TEQ was found to be a unidimensional scale, with satisfactory internal consistency (0.85), good test-retest reliability and convergent validity. CONCLUSIONS The TEQ can be used as a unidimensional scale to detect anomalous experiences in the general population, with particular reliability for people with higher incidence of these experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Heriot‐Maitland
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Silia Vitoratou
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Emmanuelle Peters
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Karlijn Hermans
- Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Contextual PsychiatryKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Til Wykes
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
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4
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Livet A, Estingoy P. [The value of cognitive restructuring of reference ideas in schizophrenia]. Soins Psychiatr 2022; 43:35-41. [PMID: 35598913 DOI: 10.1016/j.spsy.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The process and results of cognitive restructuring of disabling reference ideas are presented through the study of a case of schizophrenia. The clinical evolution is measured according to an applied behavior analysis protocol that targets psychotic symptomatology and illness awareness. The results are encouraging since we observe a clinically significant decrease in the severity of reference ideas, anxiety and an improvement in illness awareness in only ten sessions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Livet
- Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal. Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Est-de-l'Île-de Montréal. 7401 rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC H1N 3M5, Canada; Pôle intersectoriel de soins et de réhabilitation, CH Saint-Jean-de-Dieu, BP 8252, 69355 Lyon cedex 08, France.
| | - Pierrette Estingoy
- Pôle intersectoriel de soins et de réhabilitation, CH Saint-Jean-de-Dieu, BP 8252, 69355 Lyon cedex 08, France
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5
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Evermann U, Gaser C, Meller T, Pfarr JK, Grezellschak S, Nenadić I. Nonclinical psychotic-like experiences and schizotypy dimensions: Associations with hippocampal subfield and amygdala volumes. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:5075-5088. [PMID: 34302409 PMCID: PMC8449098 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizotypy and psychotic‐like experiences (PLE) form part of the wider psychosis continuum and may have brain structural correlates in nonclinical cohorts. This study aimed to compare the effects of differential schizotypy dimensions, PLE, and their interaction on hippocampal subfields and amygdala volumes in the absence of clinical psychopathology. In a cohort of 367 psychiatrically healthy individuals, we assessed schizotypal traits using the Oxford‐Liverpool Inventory of Life Experiences (O‐LIFE) and PLE using the short form of the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ‐16). Based on high‐resolution structural MRI scans, we used automated segmentation to estimate volumes of limbic structures. Sex and total intracranial volume (Step 1), PLE and schizotypy dimensions (Step 2), and their interaction terms (Step 3) were entered as regressors for bilateral amygdala and hippocampal subfield volumes in hierarchical multiple linear regression models. Positive schizotypy, but not PLE, was negatively associated with left amygdala and subiculum volumes. O‐LIFE Impulsive Nonconformity, as well as the two‐way interaction between positive schizotypy and PLE, were associated with larger left subiculum volumes. None of the estimators for right hemispheric hippocampal subfield volumes survived correction for multiple comparisons. Our findings support differential associations of hippocampus subfield volumes with trait dimensions rather than PLE, and support overlap and interactions between psychometric positive schizotypy and PLE. In a healthy cohort without current psychosis risk syndromes, the positive association between PLE and hippocampal subfield volume occurred at a high expression of positive schizotypy. Further studies combining stable, transient, and genetic parameters are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Evermann
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gaser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Tina Meller
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia-Katharina Pfarr
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Grezellschak
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany.,Marburg University Hospital, UKGM, Marburg, Germany
| | - Igor Nenadić
- Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Marburg, Germany.,Marburg University Hospital, UKGM, Marburg, Germany
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6
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Hinterbuchinger B, Mossaheb N. Psychotic-Like Experiences: A Challenge in Definition and Assessment. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:582392. [PMID: 33854445 PMCID: PMC8039445 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.582392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Assuming a continuum between psychotic experiences and psychotic symptoms aligned between healthy individuals and patients with non-psychotic and psychotic disorders, recent research has focused on subclinical psychotic experiences. The wide variety of definitions, assessment tools, and concepts of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) might contribute to the mixed findings concerning prevalence and persistence rates and clinical impact. In this narrative review, we address the panoply of terminology, definitions, and assessment tools of PLEs and associated concerns with this multitude. Moreover, the ambiguous results of previous studies regarding the clinical relevance of PLEs are described. In conclusion, we address clinical implications and highly suggest conceptual clarity and consensus concerning the terminology and definition of PLEs. The development of an agreed upon use of a "gold standard" assessment tool seems essential for more comparable findings in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Hinterbuchinger
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nilufar Mossaheb
- Clinical Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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7
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Mourgues C, Negreira AM, Quagan B, Mercan NE, Niles H, Kafadar E, Bien C, Kamal F, Powers AR. Development of Voluntary Control Over Voice-Hearing Experiences: Evidence From Treatment-Seeking and Non-Treatment-Seeking Voice-Hearers. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2020; 1:sgaa052. [PMID: 33196043 PMCID: PMC7643545 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgaa052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Voluntary control over voice-hearing experiences is one of the most consistent predictors of functioning among voice-hearers. However, control over voice-hearing experiences is likely to be more nuanced and variable than may be appreciated through coarse clinician-rated measures, which provide little information about how control is conceptualized and developed. We aimed to identify key factors in the evolution of control over voice-hearing experiences in treatment-seeking (N = 7) and non-treatment-seeking (N = 8) voice-hearers. Treatment-seeking voice-hearers were drawn from local chapters of the Connecticut Hearing Voices Network, and non-treatment-seeking voice-hearers were recruited from local spiritually oriented organizations. Both groups participated in a clinical assessment, and a semi-structured interview meant to explore the types of control exhibited and how it is fostered. Using Grounded Theory, we identified that participants from both groups exerted direct and indirect control over their voice-hearing experiences. Participants that developed a spiritual explanatory framework were more likely to exert direct control over the voice-hearing experiences than those that developed a pathologizing framework. Importantly, despite clear differences in explanatory framework and distress because of their experiences, both groups underwent similar trajectories to develop control and acceptance over their voice-hearing experiences. Understanding these factors will be critical in transforming control over voice-hearing experiences from a phenomenological observation to an actionable route for clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Mourgues
- Department of Psychiatry and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University, New Haven CT
| | - Alyson M Negreira
- Department of Psychiatry and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University, New Haven CT
| | - Brittany Quagan
- Department of Psychiatry and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University, New Haven CT
| | | | - Halsey Niles
- Department of Psychiatry and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University, New Haven CT.,Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Claire Bien
- Department of Psychiatry and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University, New Haven CT
| | - Faria Kamal
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Albert R Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and the Connecticut Mental Health Center, Yale University, New Haven CT.,Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.,Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
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8
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Phenomenological characteristics and explanations of unusual perceptual experiences, thoughts and beliefs in a population sample of early adolescents. Ir J Psychol Med 2020; 39:173-184. [PMID: 32458773 DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2020.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Often referred to as psychotic experiences, unusual perceptual experiences, thoughts and beliefs (UPTBs) are not uncommon in youth populations. Phenomenological studies of these experiences are lacking. This study aimed to (1) describe the phenomenological characteristics of UPTBs in a sample of young adolescents and (2) explore how young people made sense of those experiences. METHODS Participants were 53 young people aged 11-13 years from a population-based study of mental health. All met criteria for UPTBs following clinical interviews as part of the study. Documentary data on UPTBs in the form of transcribed notes, recorded during clinical interviews, were analysed using content analysis. Data on UPTBs were coded, organised into categorical themes and quantified using descriptive statistics. Qualitative themes on how participants made sense of their experiences were identified. RESULTS Participants reported UPTBs across four domains: auditory verbal, auditory non-verbal, non-auditory perceptual experiences and unusual thoughts and beliefs. UPTBs were phenomenologically rich and diverse. Young people sought to make sense of their experiences in multiple ways: normalising them, externalising them by attributing them to paranormal entities and distancing them from psychiatric explanations. Uncertainty about the source of UPTBs was identified as a superordinate theme. CONCLUSION Findings from this study offer new insights into the phenomenological qualities and characteristics of UPTBs in young adolescents. They also reveal that early adolescents may not make sense of their experiences within a psychiatric framework. These findings highlight the need to develop a more phenomenologically sensitive and nuanced approach to studying UPTBs in young people.
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9
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Powers AR, van Dyck LI, Garrison JR, Corlett PR. Paracingulate Sulcus Length Is Shorter in Voice-Hearers Regardless of Need for Care. Schizophr Bull 2020; 46:1520-1523. [PMID: 32432706 PMCID: PMC7707078 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Hallucinations-while often considered an indication of mental illness-are commonly experienced by those without a need for clinical care. These nonclinical voice-hearers offer an opportunity to investigate hallucinations in the absence of confounds inherent to the clinical state. Recent work demonstrates an association between auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) and structural variability in paracingulate sulcus (PCS) of medial prefrontal cortex in a clinical population. However, before PCS length may be considered a biomarker for clinical hallucination risk, it is necessary to investigate PCS structure in a nonclinical population of voice-hearers with AVH phenomenology similar to those of their clinical counterparts. In the current study, PCS length was measured from T1-weighted structural MRI scans of four groups of participants: (1) voice-hearers with a psychotic disorder (n = 15); (2) voice-hearers without a psychotic disorder (n = 15); (3) nonvoice-hearers with a psychotic disorder (n = 14); and (4) nonvoice-hearers without a psychotic disorder (n = 15). There was a main effect of AVH status-but not psychosis-on right PCS length, with no interaction of AVH and psychosis. Participants with AVH exhibited reduced right PCS length compared to participants without AVH (mean reduction = 8.8 mm, P < 0.05). While past studies have demonstrated decreased PCS length in clinical voice-hearers, ours is the first demonstration that shorter right PCS extends to nonclinical voice-hearers. Our findings support the hypothesis that differences in PCS length are related to the propensity to hear voices and not to illness, consistent with a continuum model of voice-hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert R Powers
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Albert R. Powers III, The Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT USA; tel: 203-974-7329, fax: 203-974-7957, e-mail:
| | - Laura I van Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Jane R Garrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Philip R Corlett
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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10
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Adolescent psychosis risk symptoms predicting persistent psychiatric service use: A 7-year follow-up study. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 55:102-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractBackground:We investigated whether psychosis risk symptoms predicted psychiatric service use using seven-year register follow-up data.Methods:Our sample included 715 adolescents aged 15–18, referred to psychiatric care for the first time. Psychosis risk symptoms were assessed with the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ) at the beginning of the treatment. We assessed the power of the overall PQ as well as its positive, negative, general, and disorganized psychosis risk symptom factors in predicting prolonged service use. Baseline psychiatric diagnoses (grouped into 7 categories) were controlled for. Based on both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment after baseline, adolescents were divided into three groups of brief, intermittent, and persistent service use.Results:Stronger symptoms on any PQ factor as well as the presence of a mood disorder predicted prolonged service use. All of the PQ factors remained significant predictors when adjusted for baseline mood disorder and multimorbidity.Conclusions:In a prospective follow-up of a large sample using comprehensive mental health records, our findings indicate that assessing psychosis risk symptoms in clinical adolescent settings at the beginning of treatment could predict long-term need for care beyond diagnostic information. Our findings replicate the previous findings that positive psychosis risk symptoms are unspecific markers of severity of psychopathology. Also psychosis risk symptoms of the negative, disorganization, and general clusters are approximately as strongly associated with prolonged psychiatric service use in the upcoming years.
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11
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Murphy J, McBride O, Fried E, Shevlin M. Distress, Impairment and the Extended Psychosis Phenotype: A Network Analysis of Psychotic Experiences in an US General Population Sample. Schizophr Bull 2018; 44:768-777. [PMID: 29036519 PMCID: PMC6007708 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbx134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
It has been proposed that subclinical psychotic experiences (PEs) may causally impact on each other over time and engage with one another in patterns of mutual reinforcement and feedback. This subclinical network of experiences in turn may facilitate the onset of psychotic disorder. PEs, however, are not inherently distressing, nor do they inevitably lead to impairment. The question arises therefore, whether nondistressing PEs, distressing PEs, or both, meaningfully inform an extended psychosis phenotype. The current study first aimed to exploit valuable ordinal data that captured the absence, occurrence and associated impairment of PEs in the general population to construct a general population based severity network of PEs. The study then aimed to partition the available ordinal data into 2 sets of binary data to test whether an occurrence network comprised of PE data denoting absence (coded 0) and occurrence/impairment (coded 1) was comparable to an impairment network comprised of binary PE data denoting absence/occurrence (coded 0) and impairment (coded 1). Networks were constructed using state-of-the-art regularized pairwise Markov Random Fields (PMRF). The severity network revealed strong interconnectivity between PEs and nodes denoting paranoia were among the most central in the network. The binary PMRF impairment network structure was similar to the occurrence network, however, the impairment network was characterized by significantly stronger PE interconnectivity. The findings may help researchers and clinicians to consider and determine how, when, and why an individual might transition from experiences that are nondistressing to experiences that are more commonly characteristic of psychosis symptomology in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Murphy
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Derry, UK
| | - Orla McBride
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Derry, UK
| | - Eiko Fried
- Department of Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mark Shevlin
- School of Psychology, Ulster University, Derry, UK
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12
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Mitchell CAA, Maybery MT, Russell-Smith SN, Collerton D, Gignac GE, Waters F. The Structure and Measurement of Unusual Sensory Experiences in Different Modalities: The Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (MUSEQ). Front Psychol 2017; 8:1363. [PMID: 28848477 PMCID: PMC5554527 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hallucinations and other unusual sensory experiences (USE) can occur in all modalities in the general population. Yet, the existing literature is dominated by investigations into auditory hallucinations (“voices”), while other modalities remain under-researched. Furthermore, there is a paucity of measures which can systematically assess different modalities, which limits our ability to detect individual and group differences across modalities. The current study explored such differences using a new scale, the Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (MUSEQ). The MUSEQ is a 43-item self-report measure which assesses USE in six modalities: auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, bodily sensations, and sensed presence. Scale development and validation involved a total of 1,300 participants, which included: 513 students and community members for initial development, 32 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder for validation, 659 students for factor replication, and 96 students for test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a correlated-factors model and bifactor model yielded acceptable model fit, while a unidimensional model fitted poorly. These findings were confirmed in the replication sample. Results showed contributions from a general common factor, as well as modality-specific factors. The latter accounted for less variance than the general factor, but could still detect theoretically meaningful group differences. The MUSEQ showed good reliability, construct validity, and could discriminate non-clinical and clinical groups. The MUSEQ offers a reliable means of measuring hallucinations and other USE in six different modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A A Mitchell
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia
| | - Murray T Maybery
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia
| | | | - Daniel Collerton
- Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Bensham HospitalGateshead, United Kingdom.,Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Gilles E Gignac
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia
| | - Flavie Waters
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western AustraliaCrawley, WA, Australia.,Clinical Research Centre, Graylands Hospital, North Metro Health Service Mental HealthMount Claremont, WA, Australia
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13
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Abstract
Hallucinations constitute one of the 5 symptom domains of psychotic disorders in DSM-5, suggesting diagnostic significance for that group of disorders. Although specific featural properties of hallucinations (negative voices, talking in the third person, and location in external space) are no longer highlighted in DSM, there is likely a residual assumption that hallucinations in schizophrenia can be identified based on these candidate features. We investigated whether certain featural properties of hallucinations are specifically indicative of schizophrenia by conducting a systematic review of studies showing direct comparisons of the featural and clinical characteristics of (auditory and visual) hallucinations among 2 or more population groups (one of which included schizophrenia). A total of 43 articles were reviewed, which included hallucinations in 4 major groups (nonclinical groups, drug- and alcohol-related conditions, medical and neurological conditions, and psychiatric disorders). The results showed that no single hallucination feature or characteristic uniquely indicated a diagnosis of schizophrenia, with the sole exception of an age of onset in late adolescence. Among the 21 features of hallucinations in schizophrenia considered here, 95% were shared with other psychiatric disorders, 85% with medical/neurological conditions, 66% with drugs and alcohol conditions, and 52% with the nonclinical groups. Additional differences rendered the nonclinical groups somewhat distinctive from clinical disorders. Overall, when considering hallucinations, it is inadvisable to give weight to the presence of any featural properties alone in making a schizophrenia diagnosis. It is more important to focus instead on the co-occurrence of other symptoms and the value of hallucinations as an indicator of vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavie Waters
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia;
- Clinical Research Centre, Graylands Hospital, North Metro Health Service-Mental Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Charles Fernyhough
- Hearing the Voice, c/o School of Education, Durham University, Durham, UK
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
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14
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Valmaggia LR, Day F, Rus-Calafell M. Using virtual reality to investigate psychological processes and mechanisms associated with the onset and maintenance of psychosis: a systematic review. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2016; 51:921-36. [PMID: 27262562 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-016-1245-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In the last decade researchers have embraced virtual reality to explore the psychological processes and mechanisms that are involved in the onset and maintenance of psychosis. A systematic review was conducted to synthesise the evidence of using virtual reality to investigate these mechanisms. METHODS Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, and Medline were searched. Reference lists of collected papers were also visually inspected to locate any relevant cited journal articles. In total 6001 articles were potentially eligible for inclusion; of these, 16 studies were included in the review. RESULTS The review identified studies investigating the effect of interpersonal sensitivity, childhood bullying victimisation, physical assault, perceived ethnic discrimination, social defeat, population density and ethnic density on the real-time appraisal of VR social situations. Further studies demonstrated the potential of VR to investigate paranoid ideation, anomalous experiences, self-confidence, self-comparison, physiological activation and behavioural response. CONCLUSIONS The reviewed studies suggest that VR can be used to investigate psychological processes and mechanisms associated with psychosis. Implications for further experimental research, as well as for assessment and clinical practise are discussed. The present review has been registered in the PROSPERO register: CRD42016038085.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia R Valmaggia
- Department of Psychology (PO 77), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK. .,South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK.
| | - Fern Day
- Department of Psychology (PO 77), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.,City University London, London, UK
| | - Mar Rus-Calafell
- Department of Psychology (PO 77), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
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15
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Döring C, Müller M, Hagenmuller F, Ajdacic-Gross V, Haker H, Kawohl W, Rössler W, Heekeren K. Mismatch negativity: Alterations in adults from the general population who report subclinical psychotic symptoms. Eur Psychiatry 2016; 34:9-16. [PMID: 26928341 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2015] [Revised: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits of mismatch negativity (MMN) in schizophrenia and individuals at risk for psychosis have been replicated many times. Several studies have also demonstrated the occurrence of subclinical psychotic symptoms within the general population. However, none has yet investigated MMN in individuals from the general population who report subclinical psychotic symptoms. METHODS The MMN to duration-, frequency-, and intensity deviants was recorded in 217 nonclinical individuals classified into a control group (n=72) and three subclinical groups: paranoid (n=44), psychotic (n=51), and mixed paranoid-psychotic (n=50). Amplitudes of MMN at frontocentral electrodes were referenced to average. Based on a three-source model of MMN generation, we conducted an MMN source analysis and compared the amplitudes of surface electrodes and sources among groups. RESULTS We found no significant differences in MMN amplitudes of surface electrodes. However, significant differences in MMN generation among the four groups were revealed at the frontal source for duration-deviant stimuli (P=0.01). We also detected a trend-level difference (P=0.05) in MMN activity among those groups for frequency deviants at the frontal source. CONCLUSIONS Individuals from the general population who report psychotic symptoms are a heterogeneous group. However, alterations exist in their frontal MMN activity. This increased activity might be an indicator of more sensitive perception regarding changes in the environment for individuals with subclinical psychotic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Döring
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Müller
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - F Hagenmuller
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - V Ajdacic-Gross
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H Haker
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Translational Neuromodeling Unit, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Kawohl
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Rössler
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM 27), University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - K Heekeren
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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16
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Peters E, Ward T, Jackson M, Morgan C, Charalambides M, McGuire P, Woodruff P, Jacobsen P, Chadwick P, Garety PA. Clinical, socio-demographic and psychological characteristics in individuals with persistent psychotic experiences with and without a "need for care". World Psychiatry 2016; 15:41-52. [PMID: 26833608 PMCID: PMC4780307 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals reporting persistent psychotic experiences (PEs) in the general population, but without a "need for care", are a unique group of particular importance in identifying risk and protective factors for psychosis. We compared people with persistent PEs and no "need for care" (non-clinical, N=92) with patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (clinical, N=84) and controls without PEs (N=83), in terms of their phenomenological, socio-demographic and psychological features. The 259 participants were recruited from one urban and one rural area in the UK, as part of the UNIQUE (Unusual Experiences Enquiry) study. Results showed that the non-clinical group experienced hallucinations in all modalities as well as first-rank symptoms, with an earlier age of onset than in the clinical group. Somatic/tactile hallucinations were more frequent than in the clinical group, while commenting and conversing voices were rare. Participants in the non-clinical group were differentiated from their clinical counterparts by being less paranoid and deluded, apart from ideas of reference, and having fewer cognitive difficulties and negative symptoms. Unlike the clinical group, they were characterized neither by low psychosocial functioning nor by social adversity. However, childhood trauma featured in both groups. They were similar to the controls in psychological characteristics: they did not report current emotional problems, had intact self-esteem, displayed healthy schemas about the self and others, showed high life satisfaction and well-being, and high mindfulness. These findings support biopsychosocial models postulating that environmental and psychological factors interact with biological processes in the aetiology of psychosis. While some PEs may be more malign than others, lower levels of social and environmental adversity, combined with protective factors such as intact IQ, spirituality, and psychological and emotional well-being, may reduce the likelihood of persistent PEs leading to pathological outcomes. Future research should focus on protective factors and determinants of well-being in the context of PEs, rather than exclusively on risk factors and biomarkers of disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Peters
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Thomas Ward
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK
| | - Mike Jackson
- Bangor University, School of Psychology, Bangor, North Wales, UK
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Bangor, North Wales, UK
| | - Craig Morgan
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Health Service & Population Research, London, UK
| | - Monica Charalambides
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK
| | - Philip McGuire
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychosis Studies Department, London, UK
| | - Peter Woodruff
- University of Sheffield, Cognition and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Academic Psychiatry, Sheffield, UK
| | - Pamela Jacobsen
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK
| | - Paul Chadwick
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK
| | - Philippa A Garety
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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