Virtual reality study of paranoid thinking in the general population.
BACKGROUND
Judging whether we can trust other people is central to social interaction, despite being error-prone. A fear of others can be instilled by the contemporary political and social climate. Unfounded mistrust is called paranoia, and in severe forms is a central symptom of schizophrenia.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate that individuals without severe mental illness in the general population experience unfounded paranoid thoughts, and to determine factors predictive of paranoia using the first laboratory method of capturing the experience.


METHODS
Two hundred members of the general public were comprehensively assessed, and then entered a virtual reality train ride populated by neutral characters. Ordinal logistic regressions (controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, education, intellectual functioning, socio-economic status, train use, playing of computer games) were used to determine predictors of paranoia.


RESULTS
The majority agreed that the characters were neutral, or even thought they were friendly. However, a substantial minority reported paranoid concerns. Paranoia was strongly predicted by anxiety, worry, perceptual anomalies and cognitive inflexibility.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the most unambiguous demonstration of paranoid ideation in the general public so far. Paranoia can be understood in terms of cognitive factors. The use of virtual reality should lead to rapid advances in the understanding of paranoia.
Freeman
Daniel
D
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK. D.Freeman@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Pugh
Katherine
K
Antley
Angus
A
Slater
Mel
M
Bebbington
Paul
P
Gittins
Matthew
M
Dunn
Graham
G
Kuipers
Elizabeth
E
Fowler
David
D
Garety
Philippa
P
D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome