title: The significance of possible selves in patients of an early intervention programme for psychotic disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the possible importance of patients' perceptions of possible future selves in determining self-esteem and mood.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and two patients of an early intervention programme for psychotic disorders completed measures of perceived positive and negative current and possible future selves, as well as indices of self-esteem and mood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measures of current and possible selves generally showed bivariate correlations with self-esteem, depression and anger/hostility. Perceived negative possible self was the most important independent predictor of self-esteem, depression and anger/hostility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceptions of possible negative future selves may be a particularly important determinant of self-esteem and negative mood states. Addressing fears about possible future self is likely to be an important aspect of recovery from psychotic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP), London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ross M G
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Windell
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manchanda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anger; depression; self-concept; self-esteem