Psychological factors in people at ultra-high risk of psychosis: comparisons with non-patients and associations with symptoms.
BACKGROUND
There have been recent advances in the ability to identify people at high risk of developing psychosis. This has led to interest in the possibility of preventing the development of psychosis and provides the opportunity to investigate psychological mechanisms that may confer vulnerability to psychosis.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients at ultra-high risk of developing a first episode of psychosis were compared with 56 non-patients matched for age and occupational status on measures of meta-cognition, schizotypal traits, dysfunctional attitudes and distress.


RESULTS
Analyses of covariance revealed that people at high risk of developing psychosis scored higher on measures of cognitive vulnerability, including negative meta-cognitive beliefs, beliefs about rejection and criticism from others, and discrepancies in self-perception, schizotypal traits and general mental distress. Correlational analyses revealed that negative meta-cognitive beliefs, dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs about rejection and criticism from others were positively associated with several dimensions of symptomatology in at-risk mental states (ARMS) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive and personality factors appear to characterize people at high-risk of developing psychosis and are associated with their distressing experiences. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Morrison
Anthony P
AP
Psychology Services, Bolton Salford & Trafford Mental Health Trust, UK.
French
Paul
P
Lewis
Shôn W
SW
Roberts
Morwenna
M
Raja
Shreeta
S
Neil
Sandra T
ST
Parker
Sophie
S
Green
Joanne
J
Kilcommons
Aoiffe
A
Walford
Lara
L
Bentall
Richard P
RP
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011584:Psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires