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Muyambi K, Walsh S, Dettwiller P, Tan KL, Dennis S, Bressington D, Gray RJ, McCall A, Jones M. Australian trial of behavioural activation for people with schizophrenia experiencing negative symptoms: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e080245. [PMID: 38719282 PMCID: PMC11086511 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080245] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Negative symptoms are frequently experienced by people with schizophrenia. People with negative symptoms often have impaired social functioning and reduced quality of life. There is some evidence that cognitive-behavioural therapy results in a modest reduction in negative symptoms. Behavioural activation may be an effective alternative treatment for negative symptoms.The study aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a behavioural activation trial delivered in three community mental health services in South Australia to support adult consumers experiencing negative symptoms of schizophrenia. METHOD AND ANALYSIS This randomised controlled study will recruit a total of 60 consumers aged 18 years or above with mild-moderate negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The consumers will be randomly allocated to receive behavioural activation plus usual mental healthcare or usual mental healthcare alone. The intervention group will receive twelve 30 min sessions of behavioural activation, which will be delivered twice weekly over 6 weeks. In addition, we aim to recruit nine mental health workers from the three rural mental health services who will complete a 10-week online training programme in behavioural activation. Changes in negative symptoms of schizophrenia and depressive symptoms will be assessed at three time points: (a) at baseline, at 6 weeks and 3 month follow-ups. Changes in health-related quality of life (Short Form F36; secondary outcome) will be assessed at two time points: (a) at baseline and (b) immediately at postintervention after 6 weeks. At the end of the trial, interviews will be conducted with purposively selected mental health workers and consumers. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis will be used to assess feasibility and acceptability. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The findings from our feasibility study will inform the design of a fully powered randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of behavioural activation as a treatment for negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The study protocol was approved by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee. The findings from this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTRN12623000348651p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuda Muyambi
- Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Whyalla Norrie, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sandra Walsh
- Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Whyalla Norrie, South Australia, Australia
| | - Pascale Dettwiller
- Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Whyalla Norrie, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kuan Liung Tan
- UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Shaun Dennis
- Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Whyalla Norrie, South Australia, Australia
- Rural and Remote Mental Health Service, Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network, Whyalla, South Australia, Australia
| | - Daniel Bressington
- Charles Darwin University College of Nursing & Midwifery, Casuarina, Odisha, Australia
| | - Richard John Gray
- Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Whyalla Norrie, South Australia, Australia
- School of Nursing, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Audrey McCall
- Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network, Whyalla, South Australia, Australia
| | - Martin Jones
- Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Whyalla Norrie, South Australia, Australia
- School of Nursing, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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Isham L, Loe BS, Hicks A, Wilson N, Bentall RP, Freeman D. Daydreaming and grandiose delusions: development of the Qualities of Daydreaming Scale. Behav Cogn Psychother 2024; 52:262-276. [PMID: 38372129 DOI: 10.1017/s1352465824000018] [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: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Daydreaming may contribute to the maintenance of grandiose delusions. Repeated, pleasant and vivid daydreams about the content of grandiose delusions may keep the ideas in mind, elaborate the details, and increase the degree of conviction in the delusion. Pleasant daydreams more generally could contribute to elevated mood, which may influence the delusion content. AIMS We sought to develop a brief questionnaire, suitable for research and clinical practice, to assess daydreaming and test potential associations with grandiosity. METHOD 798 patients with psychosis (375 with grandiose delusions) and 4518 non-clinical adults (1788 with high grandiosity) were recruited. Participants completed a daydreaming item pool and measures of grandiosity, time spent thinking about the grandiose belief, and grandiose belief conviction. Factor analysis was used to derive the Qualities of Daydreaming Scale (QuOD) and associations were tested using pairwise correlations and structural equation modelling. RESULTS The questionnaire had three factors: realism, pleasantness, and frequency of daydreams. The measure was invariant across clinical and non-clinical groups. Internal consistency was good (alpha-ordinals: realism=0.86, pleasantness=0.93, frequency=0.82) as was test-retest reliability (intra-class coefficient=0.75). Daydreaming scores were higher in patients with grandiose delusions than in patients without grandiose delusions or in the non-clinical group. Daydreaming was significantly associated with grandiosity, time spent thinking about the grandiose delusion, and grandiose delusion conviction, explaining 19.1, 7.7 and 5.2% of the variance in the clinical group data, respectively. Similar associations were found in the non-clinical group. CONCLUSIONS The process of daydreaming may be one target in psychological interventions for grandiose delusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Isham
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Bao Sheng Loe
- The Psychometrics Centre, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alice Hicks
- Patient Advisory Group, Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK
- The McPin Foundation, London, UK
| | - Natalie Wilson
- Patient Advisory Group, Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK
- The McPin Foundation, London, UK
| | | | - Daniel Freeman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
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Isham L, Loe BS, Hicks A, Wilson N, Bentall RP, Freeman D. The Difficulties of Grandiose Delusions: Harms, Challenges, and Implications for Treatment Engagement. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1194-1204. [PMID: 36916279 PMCID: PMC10483449 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad016] [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] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Grandiose delusions may entail difficult responsibilities and detrimental actions for patients. Recognition of these consequences by patients may provide an avenue for engagement in treatment. Furthermore, when patients carry out actions within the delusional system ("immersion behaviors") or spend considerable time thinking about their grandiose beliefs this may contribute to the persistence of the grandiosity and further harmful consequences. We, therefore, investigated grandiose-related subjective harm, immersion behaviors, and perseverative thinking. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional study with 798 patients with psychosis (375 of whom had grandiose delusions) and 4518 nonclinical adults. Factor analyses using data from participants scoring highly on grandiosity were used to form 3 scales: subjective harm from exceptional experiences questionnaire; immersion behaviors questionnaire; and thinking about exceptional experiences questionnaire. Associations with grandiosity were tested using structural equation modeling. STUDY RESULTS A total of 268 (77.9%) patients with grandiose delusions identified grandiose-related harms in the past 6 months and 199 (55.1%) wanted help. Immersion behaviors and perseverative thinking were highly prevalent, and explained 39.5% and 20.4% of the variance in grandiosity, respectively. Immersion behaviors and perseverative thinking were significantly associated with subjective harm, even when severity of grandiosity was controlled. Requests for help were associated with higher levels of subjective harm, use of immersion behaviors, and perseverative thinking but not severity of grandiosity. CONCLUSIONS Acting on grandiose delusions, including harmful behaviors and excessive thinking about grandiose delusions, may be routes for clinicians to engage patients in treatment. This could be a starting point for targeted psychological interventions for grandiose delusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Isham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Bao Sheng Loe
- The Psychometrics Centre, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alice Hicks
- Patient Advisory Group, Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP), Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK
- The McPin Foundation, London, UK
| | - Natalie Wilson
- Patient Advisory Group, Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP), Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK
- The McPin Foundation, London, UK
| | | | - Daniel Freeman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
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Bortolon C, Baeyens C, Raffard S. Hooked on a memory: How rumination about past positive events might contribute to grandiose ideas? BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 62:556-572. [PMID: 37089072 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12425] [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] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Dwelling about positive experiences has been found to be positively related to mania and grandiose ideas. Nevertheless, besides some important limitations, past research has also neglected the nature (or characteristics) of memories individuals dwell on, and that might be specifically associated with grandiose ideas. Thus, the present study aimed to replicate previous studies while considering the role of specificity and the importance of memory used to increase grandiose feelings. METHOD In total, 219 participants were included and, after completing the memory induction, were randomized to either the rumination condition or the distraction condition. They also completed different questionnaires assessing positive rumination and grandiose ideas. RESULTS Overall, rumination, compared to the distraction condition, led to the maintenance of grandiose ideas and positive affect from T2 to T3. Regression analysis showed that the specificity of memory was associated with grandiose ideas at T2, which predicted grandiose ideas at T3. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm rumination's causal role in forming grandiose ideas. We also found that autobiographical memory and, more specifically, the capacity to recall past positive experiences coupled with repeatedly thinking about them might constitute a fundamental pathway leading to the persistence of such beliefs. The use of a non-clinical sample limits the results and needs replication in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Bortolon
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, LIP/PC2S, Grenoble, France
- C3R - Réhabilitation Psychosociale et Remédiation Cognitive, Centre Hospitalier Alpes Isère, Grenoble, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Céline Baeyens
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, LIP/PC2S, Grenoble, France
| | - Stéphane Raffard
- Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
- University Department of Adult Psychiatry, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Barnes GL, Emsley R, Garety P, Hardy A. Investigating Specific Associations Between Childhood Victimization Profiles and Positive Psychosis Symptoms: The Mediating Roles of Anxiety, Depression, and Schema. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2023; 4:sgad017. [PMID: 37398699 PMCID: PMC10313155 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Childhood trauma is a risk factor for psychosis. It is proposed this is due to traumatic events giving rise to psychological mechanisms that are implicated in the development and maintenance of symptoms. Investigation of the psychological mechanisms accounting for relationships between trauma and psychosis will be assisted by focusing on specific trauma profiles, hallucination modalities, and delusion subtypes. Study Design In 171 adults with schizophrenia-spectrum diagnoses and high-conviction delusions, associations between childhood trauma classes, and hallucination and delusion factors, were tested using structural equation models (SEMs). Anxiety, depression, and negative schema were examined as potential mediators of trauma class-psychosis symptom factor links. Study Results Significant associations were found between the emotional abuse/neglect and poly-victimization classes with persecutory delusions and delusions of influence, that were all mediated through anxiety (β = 1.24-0.23, P = < .05). There was an association between the physical abuse class and grandiose/religious delusions that was not explained by the mediators (β = 1.86, P = < .05). Trauma class was not significantly associated with any hallucination modality (β = 0.004-1.46, P = > .05). Conclusions In a sample of people with strongly held delusions, this study demonstrates that childhood victimization is associated with delusions of influence and grandiose beliefs, as well as with persecutory delusions in psychosis. Consistent with previous findings, the potent, mediating role of anxiety supports affective pathway theories and the utility of targeting threat-related processes when treating trauma effects in psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina L Barnes
- To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK; e-mail:
| | - Richard Emsley
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Philippa Garety
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, London, UK
| | - Amy Hardy
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, London, UK
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Isham L, Griffith L, Boylan A, Hicks A, Wilson N, Byrne R, Sheaves B, Bentall RP, Freeman D. Understanding, treating, and renaming grandiose delusions: A qualitative study. Psychol Psychother 2021; 94:119-140. [PMID: 31785077 PMCID: PMC7984144 DOI: 10.1111/papt.12260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grandiose delusions are arguably the most neglected psychotic experience in research. OBJECTIVES We aimed to discover from patients: whether grandiose delusions have harmful consequences; the psychological mechanisms that maintain them; and what help patients may want from clinical services. DESIGN A qualitative interview design was used to explore patients' experiences of grandiose delusions. METHOD Fifteen patients with past or present experiences of grandiose delusions who were attending psychiatric services were interviewed. Thematic analysis and grounded theory were used to analyse the data. RESULTS Participants reported physical, sexual, social, occupational, and emotional harms from grandiose delusions. All patients described the grandiose belief as highly meaningful: it provided a sense of purpose, belonging, or self-identity, or it made sense of unusual or difficult events. The meaning from the belief was not synonymous with extreme superiority or arrogance. The meaning obtained appeared to be a key driver of the persistence of the beliefs. Other maintenance factors were subjectively anomalous experiences (e.g., voices), symptoms of mania, fantasy elaboration, reasoning biases, and immersive behaviours. Participants described insufficient opportunities to talk about their grandiose beliefs and related experiences and were generally positive about the possibility of a psychological therapy. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that grandiosity is a psychologically rich experience, with a number of maintenance factors that may be amenable to a targeted psychological intervention. Importantly, the term 'grandiose delusion' is an imprecise description of the experience; we suggest 'delusions of exceptionality' may be a credible alternative. PRACTITIONER POINTS Harm from grandiose delusions can occur across multiple domains (including physical, sexual, social, occupational, and emotional) and practitioners should assess accordingly. However, grandiose delusions are experienced by patients as highly meaningful: they provide a sense of purpose, belonging, or self-identity, or make sense of unusual or difficult events. Possible psychological maintenance mechanisms that could be a target for intervention include the meaning of the belief, anomalous experiences, mania, fantasy elaboration, reasoning biases, and immersive behaviours. Patients are keen to have the opportunity to access talking therapies for this experience. Taking extra time to talk at times of distress, 'going the extra mile', and listening carefully can help to facilitate trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Isham
- Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O‐CAP)Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordUK,Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustUK
| | - Laura Griffith
- Health Services Management CentreUniversity of BirminghamUK
| | - Anne‐Marie Boylan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health SciencesUniversity of OxfordUK
| | - Alice Hicks
- Patient Advisory GroupOxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O‐CAP)Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordUK,The McPin FoundationLondonUK
| | - Natalie Wilson
- Patient Advisory GroupOxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O‐CAP)Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordUK,The McPin FoundationLondonUK
| | - Rory Byrne
- Psychosis Research UnitGreater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustUK
| | - Bryony Sheaves
- Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O‐CAP)Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordUK,Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustUK
| | | | - Daniel Freeman
- Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O‐CAP)Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordUK,Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustUK
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Pondering on how great I am: Does rumination play a role in grandiose ideas? J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2021; 70:101596. [PMID: 32841922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2020.101596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES A recent psychological model proposed that rumination might be involved in grandiose delusions (GD) by amplifying positive mood triggered by the occurrence of a positive event or the recall of positive autobiographical memories. This is the first study whose aim is to explore the role of rumination in the development and maintenance of grandiose ideas in a nonclinical sample. METHODS Following a grandiose ideas induction task, 109 nonclinical participants completed a rumination and distraction condition. Participants also completed a questionnaire designed to measure GD. RESULTS Rumination induction was associated with maintained levels of grandiose ideas and positive affect, while distraction led to reduced levels of grandiose ideas. Our findings showed that grandiose ideas after the rumination condition, but not after the distraction condition, was associated with trait grandiosity. LIMITATIONS This study needs to be replicated in clinical samples. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that ruminative thinking style might play a role in the maintenance of grandiose ideas. Consequently, interventions targeting rumination might be useful when targeting grandiose delusions in clinical samples.
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