Jumping To Conclusions Bias Research Articles

Examining the influence of self-referential thinking on aberrant salience and jumping to conclusions bias in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

Background and objectivesCognitive processes such as aberrant salience and the jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias are implicated in the development of delusions. Self-referential thinking is implicated in this process; however, it is unknown how it may interact with aberrant salience and JTC bias in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSDs). This study examined associations of self-referential thinking with aberrant salience, JTC bias, and delusion severity, and whether self-referential stimuli led to an increase in aberrant salience and JTC bias in SSDs (n = 20) relative to psychiatrically healthy controls (n = 20). MethodsTo assess aberrant salience and JTC bias, participants were asked to complete both self-referential and neutral versions of the Salience Attribution Test (SAT) and the Beads Task, as well as self-report measures of aberrant salience and JTC bias. ResultsSelf-referential task condition interacted with clinical group to predict JTC beads task scores, such that participants with SSDs exhibited greater levels of JTC bias than psychiatrically healthy controls during the neutral task condition, when controlling for levels of motivation, cognitive insight, and functioning. Self-referential thinking was significantly associated with aberrant salience, JTC bias, and delusion severity. LimitationsThis experiment examined trait-level relationships between variables, so does not provide information about state-level interrelationships and would benefit from replication using more dynamic methods such as ecological momentary assessment. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the interrelationships between self-referential thinking, JTC bias, aberrant salience, and delusion severity, in individuals with SSDs, and support the interactive role of self-referential thinking in predicting JTC bias.

Jumping to conclusions bias, psychosis and impulsivity in early stages of Parkinson’s disease

ObjectivesThe aim was to explore the correlations between Jumping to Conclusions (JtC) tendency and neuropsychiatric features in patients with early Parkinson’s disease (PD).BackgroundAccording to few reports, PD patients with impulsive–compulsive behaviors (ICBs) are prone to working memory difficulties including JtC bias. The correlation of psychotic features and JtC tendency remains still unclear.MethodsHealthy controls and patients within 3 years of PD onset were recruited. Participants were examined for psychotic symptoms using a 10 question PD-specific psychosis severity scale. JtC was measured by a probalistic reasoning scenario (beads task). In PD group, medication use, motor and non-motor symptoms were documented. Impulsivity was evaluated using the Questionnaire for Impulsive–Compulsive Disorders in PD (QUIP).ResultsThe prevalence of JtC bias was 9% (6/70) in healthy individuals, compared to 32% (22/68) of PD group [p = 0.001]. No association was detected between the presence of JtC tendency and PD-associated psychosis (p = 0.216). Patients with JtC had shorter duration of PD, more tremor-dominant PD subtype and higher QUIP scores, regardless of the dopaminergic therapy (p = 0.043, p = 0.015, p = 0.007, respectively). A trend towards attention and inhibition control deficit was noticed in JtC patients.ConclusionsWe found a high prevalence of JtC bias in early, cognitively intact PD population and a potential link between subthreshold ICBs and poor performance on beads task. Additional studies are needed to confirm our results and elaborate on the mechanisms that correlate impulsivity with JtC tendency, which are likely to be different from those mediating psychotic features in early PD.

People with jumping to conclusions bias tend to make context-independent decisions rather than context-dependent decisions

Beads task (BT) uses a probabilistic reasoning paradigm and reveals jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias, the tendency to make premature judgments based on insufficient information (i.e., making fewer draws to decision-DTD). In this study, healthy participants (N = 207) were tested on the 80:20 and 60:40 color ratio versions of BT. We investigated associations of JTC bias with a set of cognitive bias problems and Cognitive Bias Task (CBT), a non-veridical (agent-centered) decision-making task that determines context-dependent and context-independent decision-making bias.Results showed that the converted CBT scores were negatively, and cognitive bias scores were positively correlated with JTC bias (DTD ≤ 2) on both versions of the BT. The CBT demonstrated to have satisfactory convergent and predictive validity for JTC bias. The findings suggest that people with JTC bias fail to solve cognitive bias problems and are more likely to make context-independent response selections than context-dependent response selections.

Is intuition allied with jumping to conclusions in decision-making? An intensive longitudinal study in patients with delusions and in non-clinical individuals.

Research suggests that a jumping-to-conclusions (JTC) bias, excessive intuition, and reduced analysis in information processing may favor suboptimal decision-making, both in non-clinical and mentally disordered individuals. The temporal relationship between processing modes and JTC bias, however, remains unexplored. Therefore, using an experience sampling methodology (ESM) approach, this study examines the temporal associations between intuitive/analytical information processing, JTC bias, and delusions in non-clinical individuals and patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, we examine whether a high use of intuitive and/or a low use of analytical processing predicts subsequent JTC bias and paranoid conviction. In a smartphone-based ESM study, participants will be prompted four times per day over three consecutive days to answer questionnaires designed to measure JTC bias, paranoid conviction, and preceding everyday-life intuition/analysis. Our hierarchical data will be analyzed using multilevel modelling for hypothesis testing. Results will further elucidate the role of aberrant human reasoning, particularly intuition, in (non-)clinical delusions and delusion-like experiences, and also inform general information processing models.

The relationship between early symptom severity, improvement and remission in first episode psychosis with jumping to conclusions

It is suggested that Jumping To Conclusions (JTC) reasoning bias might contribute to the distortion of external reality. However, the association between psychotic manifestations and JTC is obscure, especially if general intelligence is considered as a mediator. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between severity, early clinical improvement and remission of symptoms in First Episode Psychosis (FEP) with JTC as an explanatory factor. One hundred seventy-one FEP individuals were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and one month after treatment initiation. Clinical improvement was ascribed as symptom change one-month post-baseline measurements. Symptomatic remission was assessed with the Andreasen severity criteria and JTC with the Beads Task, operationalized through Draws To Decision (DTD) (the lower the number of DTD, the higher the JTC bias). Regarding symptoms severity, total psychotic, total positive psychotic, and hallucinations-item PANSS scores showed a negative association with JTC after controlling for IQ. Regarding early clinical improvement, the association with JTC was non-significant. No significant association was detected between one month remission status of FEP and JTC. Our findings indicate that severity of positive symptoms is not associated with hastiness in decision-making, but rather with a heightened conservatism in terms of increased data gathering. Further research is required to replicate the results and clarify the cognitive processes involved.

Hasty decision-making in individuals at higher risk of developing an eating disorder

Background and objectivesThe Jumping to Conclusions (JTC) bias is the tendency to make hasty decisions based on limited evidence and may contribute to the formation of over-valued beliefs about the importance of weight, shape and eating. Previous research investigating the JTC bias in clinical eating disorder samples, as assessed by the beads task, is inconclusive. The current study investigated the JTC bias in a non-clinical sample of undergraduate students identified as being lower or higher risk of developing an eating disorder. The study used a more reliable ‘distractor’ beads task that also incentivised hastier decisions by elevating the pressure of the task. MethodsFemale undergraduate students (N = 156, 48%, classified as higher risk) completed a pressure and non-pressure distractor beads task, along with measures of weight concern and body-image flexibility. ResultsHigher risk participants displayed a hastier decision-making style than lower risk participants. Task pressure elicited a hastier decision-making style across the whole sample, however, was unable to distinguish between higher and lower eating disorder risk status. LimitationsInterpretation of findings are limited to non-clinical samples and may not generalise to clinical eating disorder populations. ConclusionsFindings suggest the need for replication in a clinical eating disorder sample using the distractor beads task. Future research should investigate whether eating disorder salient stimuli elicits a stronger bias.

Functional outcomes and subjective recovery of jumping to conclusions in schizophrenia

This study investigated the effects of the bias known as jumping to conclusions (JTC) on objective functional outcomes as well as subjective assessments of quality of life (QoL) and personal recovery among a sample of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Specifically, this study assessed the variables of JTC, psychiatric symptoms, neurocognitive functioning, objective interpersonal and daily activities, vocational domains, subjective QoL, and personal recovery among 94 participants. Results showed that those in the JTC group had significantly lower neurocognitive and functional outcomes (moderate effect sizes); however, subjective measures such as QoL and personal recovery did not differ significantly according to JTC (small effect sizes). After adjusting for attributes, there were no statistically significant differences, but the JTC group demonstrated lower overall functional outcomes and higher individual recovery, each with a moderate effect size. This ‘trade-off’ is not evidence-guaranteed, and further research is recommended to examine the relationship between social functioning and personal recovery in people with JTC bias.

Prolonged rather than hasty decision-making in schizophrenia using the box task. Must we rethink the jumping to conclusions account of paranoia?

Jumping to conclusions (JTC) is the best established cognitive bias in schizophrenia and is increasingly targeted in interventions aimed to improve positive symptoms. To address shortcomings of the standard measure to capture JTC, the beads task, we developed a new variant—the box task—which was subsequently validated in people with elevated psychotic-like experiences. For the first time, the box task was administered in a sample of individuals with manifest schizophrenia. We hypothesized that patients with schizophrenia would display an elevated JTC bias relative to controls. MethodWe recruited a large sample of 101 patients with schizophrenia and matched them to an online sample recruited from the general population. In the box task, participants must decide which of two kinds of colored balls are presented more often. Participants are told that the task may end prematurely, and that task performance will be counted as an error if no decision had been made before that point. The primary measure was the number of draws to decision (DTD), where fewer DTD corresponds to greater JTC. ResultsIn contrast to expectations, participants with schizophrenia showed significantly higher DTD (i.e., reduced JTC). Consistent with our previous findings, patients also displayed a lowered decision threshold compared to controls. Response confidence for the final decision was lower in patients and correlated with self-esteem and positive symptoms. While there was evidence that previous knowledge of the box task lowered DTD, exclusion of participants with experience on the box task did not substantially change results. DiscussionThe study fits a growing body of experiments casting doubt on the generalizability of the JTC effect in schizophrenia across different tasks. While the study tentatively supports a liberal acceptance account of psychosis, caution is warranted and we recommend that research should explore and control for potentially important mediators (e.g., task difficulty, stress, test-taking attitudes).

T52. COGNITION, METACOGNITION AND SOCIAL COGNITION AFTER A FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM A 5-YEAR-FOLLOW-UP STUDY

BackgroundCognitive impairment is considered a core feature of psychotic disorders. Deficits in cognition, metacognition and social cognition have been reported to be correlated, and indeed predictors, of functional outcome or level of disability. Psychotic patients tend to present lower IQ and show impairment in specific cognitive domains, and in social cognition, than controls. Several studies have found deficits in facial emotion recognition (FER) and a higher prevalence of the jumping to conclusions (JTC) reasoning and data gathering biases among psychotic patients, even at time of illness onset, compared to controls. However, the trajectory of this impairment remains unclear. Only a few studies have jointly investigated longitudinally the course of neurocognitive and social cognitive deficits, emotional processing, and JTC. Therefore, this study aimed to explore long-term trajectories of IQ, JTC, and FER using 5-year follow up (FU) data.Methods36 patients with First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and 70 controls from the London subsample of the EUGEI study were followed up after 5 years. Sociodemographic, clinical and neuropsychological assessments were performed at baseline and 5-year-follow-up. Current IQ was measured using WAIS III short form, JTC bias through the 60:40 beads task, and FER using Degraded Facial Affect Recognition (DFAR) task. In STATA 15, repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyse changes between baseline and follow up scores.ResultsMean IQ scores for patients were 88.4 (20) at baseline and 92.6 (SD 17.9) at FU. For controls, IQ scores were 104.5 (SD 18.4) at baseline and 108.9 (SD 19.5) at FU. For patients, mean number of beads was 3.9 (SD 4) at baseline and 3.2 (SD 3.4) at FU, while controls decided after 6.3 (SD 4.6) beads on average at baseline and 6.5 (SD 3.2) at FU. For patients, mean DFAR scores were overall [baseline: 72.5 (SD 16); FU: 72.4 (SD 18.1)], neutral [baseline: 79 (SD 19.1); FU: 76.5 (SD 24.3)], happy [baseline: 86.9 (SD 16.9); FU: 88.4 (SD 18.9)], fearful [baseline: 51.3 (25.6); FU: 54.2 (SD 20.9)], angry [baseline: 72.8 (24.3); FU: 70.4 (26.9)]. For controls, mean DFAR scores were overall [baseline: 76.3 (SD 8.6); FU: 75.4 (SD 8.7)], neutral [baseline: 82.2 (SD 12.8); FU: 84.9 (SD 13.1)], happy [baseline: 93 (SD 7.9); FU: 90.7 (SD 8.5)], fearful [baseline: 60.5 (18.1); FU: 58.1 (SD 20.3)], angry [baseline: 69.5 (19.5); FU: 58.1 (20.3)]. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that patients scored significantly lower than controls on: IQ [F(1,103) = 22.6, p < 0.001], beads task [F(1,104) = 12.5, p = 0.0006], DFAR overall [F(1,101) = 6.94, p = 0.0096], DFAR neutral [F(1,101) = 10.36, p = 0.0017], DFAR happy [F(1,101) = 7.88, p = 0.0059] and DFAR fearful [F(1,101) = 5.45, p = 0.0213]. There was a significant effect of time for IQ scores [F(1,103) = 19.4, p > 0.001], but no time*group interaction. There was no significant main effect of time or time*group interaction for beads task and all DFAR scores.DiscussionIn line with previous literature, lower IQ was found in the patients group, both at baseline and 5-year-follow-up. Likewise, jumping to conclusion bias and facial emotion recognition impairments were prominent in patients compared to controls. Preliminary Results: pointed out small yet significant improvement in current IQ for both groups. Nonetheless, JTC bias and deficits in recognising emotional facial expressions were found to be steady along the course of the illness. Further research is warranted to examine the association between those impairments and functional outcome.

The jumping to conclusions bias associated with symptoms in schizophrenia: which factors influence this bias?

ABSTRACT Jumping-to-conclusions (JTC) bias has been found to be associated with delusions. However, there is limited data about which other factors are related to JCT bias. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of psychotic, cognitive, impulsivity and anxiety symptoms on JTC bias. We compared individuals with paranoid schizophrenia, non-paranoid schizophrenia, generalized anxiety disorder and healthy individuals in terms of JTC bias. Beads task (90:10 and 60:40 versions), Tower of London task, BPRS, SAPS, SANS and BIS-11 were applied. Our results show that the factors related with JTC bias were different on each version of the Beads task. Education levels, anxiety and negative symptoms of individuals with schizophrenia were found to affect JTC bias on 90:10 version of task, whereas positive symptoms and impulsivity levels were related to JTC bias on 60:40 version. These results are important as they contribute to our understanding of this relationship.

The jumping to conclusions reasoning bias as a cognitive factor contributing to psychosis progression and persistence: findings from NEMESIS-2.

Contemporary models of psychosis implicate the importance of affective dysregulation and cognitive factors (e.g. biases and schemas) in the development and maintenance of psychotic symptoms, but studies testing proposed mechanisms remain limited. This study, uniquely using a prospective design, investigated whether the jumping to conclusions (JTC) reasoning bias contributes to psychosis progression and persistence. Data were derived from the second Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-2). The Composite International Diagnostic Interview and an add-on instrument were used to assess affective dysregulation (i.e. depression, anxiety and mania) and psychotic experiences (PEs), respectively. The beads task was used to assess JTC bias. Time series analyses were conducted using data from T1 and T2 (N = 8666), excluding individuals who reported high psychosis levels at T0. Although the prospective design resulted in low statistical power, the findings suggest that, compared to those without symptoms, individuals with lifetime affective dysregulation were more likely to progress from low/moderate psychosis levels (state of 'aberrant salience', one or two PEs) at T1 to high psychosis levels ('frank psychosis', three or more PEs or psychosis-related help-seeking behaviour) at T2 if the JTC bias was present [adj. relative risk ratio (RRR): 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-18.6, p = 0.101]. Similarly, the JTC bias contributed to the persistence of high psychosis levels (adj. RRR: 12.7, 95% CI 0.7-239.6, p = 0.091). We found some evidence that the JTC bias may contribute to psychosis progression and persistence in individuals with affective dysregulation. However, well-powered prospective studies are needed to replicate these findings.

Investigating the jumping to conclusion bias in bipolar disorder

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Hemsley and Garety described the “jumping to conclusions bias” in which patients with delusions may reach unreasonable results with insufficient information. In this study patients with bipolar disorder and healthy volunteers were compared in terms of jumping to conclusions bias using the beads in the jar task.Methods: 37 patients with DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar disorder and 30 healthy controls were tested with the Beads Task (BT), Tower of London Test (ToL) and Barrat Impulsiveness Scale (BIS).Results: In the BT, the mean score of DtD (draws to decision) and JTC (jumping to conclusions) scores were not statistically different between the two groups. In the ToL test, the duration of the total execution and the total time were significantly longer in the bipolar group than the control group. BIS scores were significantly higher in the bipolar group. YMRS (Young Mania Rating Scale) scores were not correlated with BT.Conclusions: This study is the first clinical study to assess the jumping to conclusions bias in patients with bipolar disorder. No JTC bias was detected in bipolar disorder. Further studies may assess JTC in larger samples to determine the effects of clinical state changes, psychotic symptoms, medication and impulsivity.

Jumping to conclusions at first onset of psychosis predicts longer admissions, more compulsory admissions and police involvement over the next 4 years: the GAP study.

Jumping to conclusions (JTC), which is the proneness to require less information before forming beliefs or making a decision, has been related to formation and maintenance of delusions. Using data from the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre Genetics and Psychosis (GAP) case-control study of first-episode psychosis (FEP), we set out to test whether the presence of JTC would predict poor clinical outcome at 4 years. One-hundred and twenty-three FEP patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the probabilistic reasoning 'Beads' Task at the time of recruitment. The sample was split into two groups based on the presence of JTC bias. Follow-up data over an average of 4 years were obtained concerning clinical course and outcomes (remission, intervention of police, use of involuntary treatment - the Mental Health Act (MHA) - and inpatient days). FEP who presented JTC at baseline were more likely during the follow-up period to be detained under the MHA [adjusted OR 15.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.92-83.54, p = 0.001], require intervention by the police (adjusted OR 14.95, 95% CI 2.68-83.34, p = 0.002) and have longer admissions (adjusted IRR = 5.03, 95% CI 1.91-13.24, p = 0.001). These associations were not accounted for by socio-demographic variables, IQ and symptom dimensions. JTC in FEP is associated with poorer outcome as indicated and defined by more compulsion police intervention and longer periods of admission. Our findings raise the question of whether the implementation of specific interventions to reduce JTC, such as Metacognition Training, may be a useful addition in early psychosis intervention programmes.

Reasoning bias, working memory performance and a transdiagnostic phenotype of affective disturbances and psychotic experiences in the general population.

The jumping to conclusions (JTC) reasoning bias and decreased working memory performance (WMP) are associated with psychosis, but associations with affective disturbances (i.e. depression, anxiety, mania) remain inconclusive. Recent findings also suggest a transdiagnostic phenotype of co-occurring affective disturbances and psychotic experiences (PEs). This study investigated whether JTC bias and decreased WMP are associated with co-occurring affective disturbances and PEs. Data were derived from the second Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-2). Trained interviewers administered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) at three time points in a general population sample (N = 4618). The beads and digit-span task were completed to assess JTC bias and WMP, respectively. CIDI was used to measure affective disturbances and an add-on instrument to measure PEs. Compared to individuals with neither affective disturbances nor PEs, the JTC bias was more likely to occur in individuals with co-occurring affective disturbances and PEs [moderate psychosis (1-2 PEs): adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) 1.17, 95% CI 0.98-1.41; and high psychosis (3 or more PEs or psychosis-related help-seeking behaviour): adjusted RRR 1.57, 95% CI 1.19-2.08], but not with affective disturbances and PEs alone, whereas decreased WMP was more likely in all groups. There was some evidence of a dose-response relationship, as JTC bias and decreased WMP were more likely in individuals with affective disturbances as the level of PEs increased or help-seeking behaviour was reported. The findings suggest that JTC bias and decreased WMP may contribute to a transdiagnostic phenotype of co-occurring affective disturbances and PEs.

T115. REASONING BIAS, WORKING MEMORY PERFORMANCE, AND A TRANSDIAGNOSTIC PHENOTYPE OF AFFECTIVE DISTURBANCES AND PSYCHOTIC EXPERIENCES IN THE GENERAL POPULATION

BackgroundThere is robust evidence that reasoning biases such as a tendency of jumping to conclusions (JTC) as well as cognitive deficits are associated with psychosis, but evidence on their association with affective disturbances remains inconclusive. Recent findings also suggest a transdiagnostic phenotype of co-occurring affective disturbances and psychotic experiences. This study aimed to investigate whether JTC bias and decreased working memory performance are associated with the co-occurrence of affective disturbances, psychotic experiences (PEs), and psychosis-related help-seeking behaviour (HS) in the general population.MethodsThe second Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS-2). Trained interviewers administered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) at three time points in a representative general population sample, with N=4.596 individuals who completed all assessments. The beads task and digit-span task were completed to assess JTC bias and working memory performance, respectively. CIDI was used to measure affective disturbances (i.e. depression, anxiety, mania) and an add-on instrument to measure PEs and HS.ResultsWe found that, compared to individuals with neither affective disturbances nor PEs, JTC bias was more likely to be present in individuals with co-occurring affective disturbances, PEs, and HS (moderate psychosis [1–2 PEs]: relative risk ratio [RRR]=1.23, 95% CI 1.03 – 1.48, p=0.023; high psychosis [3 or more PEs or HS]: RRR=1.66, 95% CI 1.26 – 2.19, p<0.001) in models adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics and socio-environmental factors. However, when we additionally adjusted for working memory performance this association was attenuated (moderate psychosis: RRR=1.17, 95% CI 0.98 – 1.41, p=0.088; high psychosis: RRR=1.57, 95% CI 1.19 – 2.08, p=0.002). In line with previous findings, there was no evidence that JTC bias was more likely to occur in individuals with sole presence of affective disturbances (RRR=1.03, 95% CI 0.94–1.13, p=0.492). Further, there was some evidence of a dose-response relationship, as JTC bias was progressively more likely to occur in individuals with affective disturbances as the level of PEs increased or HS was reported (high vs. moderate psychosis: p=0.052). In contrast, compared to individuals with neither affective disturbances nor PEs, a decreased working memory performance was evident in all groups (i.e., affective disturbances only: RRR=0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.98, p=0.006; PEs only: RRR=0.79, 95% CI 0.69–0.91, p=0.001; co-occurring affective disturbances and moderate psychosis: RRR=0.83, 95% CI 0.75–0.91, p<0.001; co-occurring affective disturbances and high psychosis: RRR=0.76, 95% CI 0.65–0.89, p=0.001).DiscussionOur findings suggest that JTC bias and decreased working memory performance may contribute to a transdiagnostic phenotype of co-occurring affective disturbances and PEs. Further, findings support the notion that JTC bias may be specifically associated with psychosis, including in those presenting a transdiagnostic phenotype, while a lowered working memory performance may represent a more broadly distributed vulnerability factor across various symptom domains. Overall, results point to the need to further investigate whether established mechanism and risk factors, described to be involved in the development and maintenance of psychosis, extend to transdiagnostic phenotypes to further corroborate proposed aetiological models and overcome shortcomings of focussing only on specific domains of mental health.

S63. WHICH CLINICAL AND COGNITIVE FACTORS ARE RELATED WITH CHANGES IN JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS IN FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS?

BackgroundThe data gathering bias of jumping to conclusions (JTC) consists in a tendency to take a decision without sufficient information. There is evidence that suggests that the JTC bias does not improve (So et al., 2010), however other authors suggest that some psychological interventions such as Metacognitive Training have demonstrated that JTC can be reduced (Aghotor et al., 2010; Moritz et al., 2014; Pankowski et al., 2016; Ochoa et al., 2017). Nevertheless, any study has assessed the clinical and cognitive factor that are related with the improvement of this bias in schizophrenia or first episode psychosis.The aim of the study is to assess which clinical and cognitive factors are related with the improvement of the JTC after a psychological intervention (Meta-Cognitive or psychoeducational group).MethodsA total of 113 people were assessed with the beads task in two moments: basal and after 3 months. The sample was composed of people with a recent onset of psychosis, recruited from 9 public centers in Spain. Symptoms were assessed with the PANSS and the Psyrats; insight was assessed with the SUMD and the BCIS, and a neuropsychological battery including TMTA and TMTB, digits, WSCT and IQ was used.ResultsA total of 28 (24.8%) patients performed JTC in the basal assessment; of them 18 improved JTC after the interventions and 10 remains performing JTC. People who improved JTC presented higher levels of insight (p=0.032), better neuropsychological functioning in TMTA (p=0.011), Digits (p=0.033) and IQ (p=0.014). Moreover, people who improved JTC presented a tendency to score lower in hallucinations (p=0.097), and better in the WSCT (p=0.065) and TMTB (p=0.076).DiscussionSome clinical and cognitive characteristics facilitated that people improved JTC bias. People with a better insight and better scores in attention, memory and IQ have more probabilities to improve JTC after a psychological intervention. These variables should be controlled in the interventions with the idea of better address these.

Intranasal oxytocin does not modulate jumping to conclusions in schizophrenia: Potential interactions with caudate volume and baseline social functioning

BackgroundPatients with schizophrenia (SCZ) tend to sample less information when making a decision, jumping to conclusions (JTC) without sufficient evidence. This “JTC bias” may be a trait marker of the disease and may not improve with antipsychotic treatment. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test whether intranasal oxytocin could reduce JTC in stable, medicated patients with SCZ and healthy controls (HCs). We also explored whether striatal volume, clinical symptoms, and baseline social functioning (SF) was related to JTC performance. MethodsForty-three male, medicated SCZ patients (Mean Age: 40.81±11.44) and sixteen HCs (Mean Age: 30.38±9.85) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Participants completed the Beads Task on two separate visits (minimum 20days apart). Participants were randomized to receive either intranasal oxytocin (50IU in solution) or intranasal placebo (saline). Twenty of the SCZ patients and all sixteen HCs also provided T1 MRIs (3-T). ResultsPatients with SCZ took fewer draws to decision (DTD) than HCs (t(57)=2.78, p=0.007). Oxytocin did not significantly change DTD in patients (t(42)=−1.11, p=0.27), nor in HCs (t(15)=−0.62, p=0.55). Exploratory analyses found ventral caudate volumes were negatively correlated with DTD (r(18)=−0.50, p=0.03) in patients. Moreover, oxytocin was more likely to improve JTC in patients with lower baseline SF. However, these exploratory findings did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. ConclusionsWe replicate increased JTC in SCZ. However, acute intranasal oxytocin did not modify JTC. Future studies with larger samples should explore how brain morphology and SF are related to JTC performance in patients with SCZ.

Can cognitive insight predict symptom remission in a first episode psychosis cohort?

BackgroundThe outcome of first episode psychosis (FEP) is highly variable and difficult to predict. Cognitive insight measured at illness onset has previously been found to predict psychopathology 12-months later. The aims of this study were to examine whether the prospective relationship between cognitive insight and symptom severity is evident at four-years following FEP and to examine some psychological correlates of cognitive insight.MethodsFEP participants (n = 90) completed the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) at illness onset, and associations between BCIS scores with symptom severity outcomes (4-years after FEP) were assessed. The BCIS scales (self-reflectiveness and self-certainty) were examined as a composite score, and individually compared to other cognitive measures (IQ and jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias).ResultsRegression analyses revealed that the cognitive insight composite did not predict 4-year symptom remission in this study while the self-reflection subscale of the BCIS predicted severity of symptoms at 4-years. Self-certainty items of the BCIS were not associated with symptom severity. Significant correlations between the JTC bias, self-certainty and IQ were found, but self-reflection did not correlate with these other cognitive measures.ConclusionsSelf-reflective capacity is a more relevant and independent cognitive construct than self-certainty for predicting prospective symptom severity in psychosis. Improving self-reflection may be a useful target for early intervention research.

Preliminary study of effects on paranoia ideation and jumping to conclusions in the context of group treatment of anxiety disorders in young people.

People with anxiety disorders tend to focus on unpleasant and threatening stimuli. Our aims were to evaluate: (1) the presence of paranoid ideation, and the jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias in young suffering from an anxiety disorder and (2) the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioural intervention (CBT) to manage anxiety combined with 2 modules to reduce the JTC bias. Psychopathology, social functioning, metacognition and the JTC bias were investigated in 60 subjects, randomly assigned to the experimental CBT group + treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 35) or to a wait-list group (n = 25) receiving only TAU. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups based on the score of the SCL-90 subscale paranoid ideation (high paranoid ideation, HP; low paranoid ideation, LP). The experimental group received a weekly session of a CBT for a 3-month period. At baseline, 46.7% of our sample showed a HP and 38% showed a JTC biasAt the end of the intervention, greater effectiveness in improving anxious symptoms, paranoid ideation, interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal relationship was reported in the experimental CBT + TAU group, with a statistically significant reduction of the JTC bias, displayed by 14.3% of the experimental group versus the 36% of the TAU group. In the same variables, greater benefits were reported for the HP experimental subgroup. Our study suggests the gains to integrate an anxiety CBT with modules to reduce the JTC bias in subjects with paranoid ideation, which may negatively impact the course of the disease.

Beads task vs. box task: The specificity of the jumping to conclusions bias

Background and objectivesPrevious research involving the probabilistic reasoning ‘beads task’ has consistently demonstrated a jumping-to-conclusions (JTC) bias, where individuals with delusions make decisions based on limited evidence. However, recent studies have suggested that miscomprehension may be confounding the beads task. The current study aimed to test the conventional beads task against a conceptually simpler probabilistic reasoning “box task” MethodsOne hundred non-clinical participants completed both the beads task and the box task, and the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory (PDI) to assess for delusion-proneness. The number of ‘draws to decision’ was assessed for both tasks. Additionally, the total amount of on-screen evidence was manipulated for the box task, and two new box task measures were assessed (i.e., ‘proportion of evidence requested’ and ‘deviation from optimal solution’). ResultsDespite being conceptually similar, the two tasks did not correlate, and participants requested significantly less information on the beads task relative to the box task. High-delusion-prone participants did not demonstrate hastier decisions on either task; in fact, for box task, this group was observed to be significantly more conservative than low-delusion-prone group. LimitationsNeither task was incentivized; results need replication with a clinical sample. ConclusionParticipants, and particularly those identified as high-delusion-prone, displayed a more conservative style of responding on the novel box task, relative to the beads task. The two tasks, whilst conceptually similar, appear to be tapping different cognitive processes. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the JTC bias and the theoretical mechanisms thought to underlie it.