title: A preliminary investigation of schematic beliefs and unusual experiences in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In cognitive models of adult psychosis, schematic beliefs about the self and others are important vulnerability and maintaining factors, and are therefore targets for psychological interventions. Schematic beliefs have not previously been investigated in children with distressing unusual, or psychotic-like, experiences (UEDs). The aim of this study was firstly to investigate whether a measure of schematic beliefs, originally designed for adults with psychosis, was suitable for children; and secondly, to examine the association of childhood schematic beliefs with internalising and externalising problems and with UEDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven children aged 8-14 years, with emotional and behavioural difficulties, completed measures of UEDs, internalising (depression and anxiety), and externalising (conduct and hyperactivity-inattention) problems, together with the Brief Core Schema Scales (BCSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BCSS was readily completed by participants, and scale psychometric properties were good. Children tended to view themselves and others positively. Internalising and externalising problems and UEDs were all associated with negative schematic beliefs; effect sizes were small to medium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Schematic beliefs in young people can be measured using the BCSS, and negative schematic beliefs are associated with childhood psychopathology and with UEDs. Schematic beliefs may therefore form a useful target in psychological interventions for young people with UEDs.
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noone
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hassanali
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bracegirdle
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corrigall
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit (BRC/U) at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Research Unit for Schizophrenia Epidemiology, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Laurens
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit (BRC/U) at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit (BRC/U) at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maddox
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address: Suzanne.Jolley@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jolley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Adolescent psychiatry; Child development; Cognitive behaviour therapy; Pediatrics; Psychotherapy; Schizophrenia and psychosis