The role of mental imagery in non-clinical paranoia.
OBJECTIVE
Cognitive models of paranoia incorporate many of the processes implicated in the maintenance of anxiety disorders. Despite this, the role of mental imagery in paranoia remains under-researched. The current study examined the impact of a self-imagery manipulation in people with high non-clinical paranoia.


METHODS
We used a mixed design with one between-subjects variable (type of self-imagery) and one within-subjects variable (time--pre and post imagery manipulation). Thirty participants with high trait paranoia were allocated alternately to a positive or negative self-imagery condition. Scripts were used to elicit positive and negative self-imagery. All participants completed self-report state measures of paranoia, mood, self-esteem and self-compassion.


RESULTS
Group by time interaction effects were found for each of the dependent variables. Positive imagery led to less state paranoia, anxiety and negative affect, and more positive affect, self-esteem and self-compassion, compared with the negative imagery group.


CONCLUSIONS
This was a non-blind study, limited by allocation method and a brief time-frame which did not allow us to assess longevity of effects. We recruited a relatively small and predominantly female sample of people with high non-clinical paranoia. The study did not include a neutral control condition, a low paranoia comparison group, or a manipulation check following the imagery task.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-imagery manipulations may affect paranoia, mood and self-beliefs. If the findings are replicated with clinical groups, and maintained over a longer period, this would suggest that imagery-based interventions targeting persecutory delusions might be usefully examined.
Psychology Academic Unit, University of Southampton, Building 44, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
Gemma
G
Bullock
Psychology Academic Unit, University of Southampton, Building 44, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK; Southampton Psychological Therapies Service, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, College Keep, Terminus Terrace, Southampton, SO14 3DT, UK. Electronic address: knt@soton.ac.uk.
Katherine
K
Newman-Taylor
Psychology Academic Unit, University of Southampton, Building 44, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
Luisa
L
Stopa
D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D010258:Paranoid Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Mental imagery; Paranoia; Persecutory delusions