The psychology of persecutory ideation I: a questionnaire survey.
Paranoia is a complex phenomenon that is likely to arise from a number of factors. In a recent cognitive model of persecutory delusions, three key factors are highlighted: anomalous experiences, emotion, and reasoning. In the first of two linked studies, we report a questionnaire survey of nonclinical paranoia designed to assess the theoretical model. A nonclinical population (N = 327) completed measures of paranoia, anomalous experiences (hallucinatory predisposition, perceptual anomalies), emotion (depression, anxiety, self-focus, stress, interpersonal sensitivity), and reasoning (need for closure). Paranoia was best explained by separation anxiety, depression, fragile inner self, hallucinatory experiences, discomfort with ambiguity, stress, self-focus, perceptual anomalies, and anxiety. The findings are consistent with the central predictions within the model of paranoia.
Freeman
Daniel
D
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Dunn
Graham
G
Garety
Philippa A
PA
Bebbington
Paul
P
Slater
Mel
M
Kuipers
Elizabeth
E
Fowler
David
D
Green
Catherine
C
Jordan
Joel
J
Ray
Katarzyna
K
D000328:Adult; D003702:Delusions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires