title: Self-affirmation and nonclinical paranoia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This experiment examined whether reflecting on a core value-value-affirmation-was effective in attenuating state paranoia in students.
  
  
  METHODS
  University students (N = 55) were randomised to either a value-affirmation or non-affirmation control condition before exposure to a paranoia-induction manipulation (high self-awareness plus failure feedback). Paranoid cognitions were measured before (T1) and after (T2) the value-affirmation task and after the paranoia-induction task (T3). Depressive cognitions were also measured at T3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Affirming a valued domain had a direct and significant effect on reducing state paranoia prior to the paranoia-induction task (T2), such that the overall impact of the paranoia-induction on state paranoia was not significantly different from baseline. This effect was not attributable to differential changes in depression across groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a nonclinical sample limits generalisation to clinical groups. Repeat testing of key variables is a limitation, although this was necessary to assess change over time, and use of randomisation increased the internal validity of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that self-affirmation is effective in reducing state paranoia in a nonclinical sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW200EX, UK.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kingston
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW200EX, UK. Electronic address: Lyn.Ellett@rhul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ellett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Paranoia; Self-affirmation; Self-awareness; Student sample