Paranoid Group Research Articles

Psychoanalyzing democracies: Antagonisms, paranoia, and the productivity of depression

Psychoanalyzing democracies: Antagonisms, paranoia, and the productivity of depression

The profile of unusual beliefs associated with metacognitive thinking and attributional styles.

Cognitive interpretations of daily events may differ in people from the general population who hold unusual beliefs. It is also important to understand whether different belief profiles exist to appreciate which patterns of beliefs are less psychologically healthy. Cluster analysis was used to form unusual belief profiles in a general population sample (n = 578; M age = 22 years, SD = 6.98; 80% female) across paranoid, paranormal, and magical ideation beliefs, and we assessed whether they differed in attribution style and metacognitive beliefs about worry. Four clusters were formed: low on all measures (low all); high on all measures (high all); comparably higher on paranormal beliefs (paranormal group); and comparably higher on paranoid beliefs (paranoid group). For total Metacognitions Questionnaire‐30, the high all and high paranoid clusters did not differ, and both clusters scored higher than the high paranormal group, who all scored higher than the low all cluster. For attributional styles (Attributional Styles Questionnaire), lower scores on internal positive attribution were found for the high all and high paranoid clusters compared to the low all and high paranormal clusters. The high paranormal cluster had higher scores than the high paranoid cluster on self‐serving bias. Differences in attributional style appeared to be driven by mental health diagnosis. Our results suggest different profiles of unusual beliefs are detectable in the general population that differ in their metacognitive beliefs and perceived causation of events in their environment. Future studies investigating delusional proneness need to consider multiple unusual beliefs as well as assessing mood state and distress.

Amygdala hyperconnectivity in the paranoid state: A transdiagnostic study

BackgroundParanoia significantly contributes to social impairments across clinical diagnoses, and amygdala dysfunction has been identified as a neurobiological marker of paranoia among individuals with schizophrenia. Therefore, we aimed to investigate amygdala functional connectivity (FC) in paranoia across diagnoses. MethodsForty-five patients with recent history of clinically significant paranoid ideation and a current DSM-5 diagnosis of any disorder underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging either in a paranoid (N = 23) or non-paranoid (N = 22) state. Amygdala FC were compared between paranoid and non-paranoid patients. Supplemental correlation analyses between amygdala FC and paranoia score were performed separately in patients and a non-equivalent healthy control (HC; N = 60) group. ResultsIncreased FC was found between right amygdala and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) [bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate, medial frontal gyrus, the triangular part and the opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG); right orbital part of IFG], the frontal cortex (bilateral median cingulate, left precentral gyrus), and subcortical areas (right insula) in the paranoid group compared with the non-paranoid group. No significant between-group differences were observed in left amygdala FC. FC between right amygdala and PFC and frontal cortex was positively correlated with paranoia in patient and HC groups. ConclusionParanoia is associated with right amygdala hyperconnectivity with PFC, frontal cortex, and insula. This hyperconnectivity was evident regardless of diagnosis and therefore identify a likely transdiagnostic neural mechanism, which may help to identify treatment targets that could potentially improve the social functioning of individuals with clinical diagnoses.

The role of self-regulation of behavior as an aspect of adaptation-compensatory mechanisms in patients with paranoid schizophrenia

The article presents current data about mentality adaptive-compensatory mechanisms of schizophrenic patients in the context of behavioral self-regulation. Futhermore, such psychological characteristics as the level of internality and life orientation are observed. The study involved 30 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and comparison group of healthy subjects (N=30). The violations and specific features of mentality adaptive-compensatory mechanisms which clarifies disturbance of their adaptation in schizophrenic patients were distinguished.

The effects of cannabidiol on persecutory ideation and anxiety in a high trait paranoid group.

Previous studies have suggested that cannabidiol has anxiolytic and antipsychotic properties, raising hopes that cannabidiol will translate to the psychiatric clinic. Cannabidiol may be particularly useful for anxiety and paranoia in those at-risk of major mental illness. Immersion in a controlled 3D virtual-reality scenario was used to assay persecutory ideation and anxiety in a sample of non-clinical volunteers ( n=32) pre-selected for high paranoid traits. Participants were randomised to receive oral cannabidiol (600 mg) or placebo 130 min prior to entering virtual-reality. Well-validated rating scales were used to assay persecutory thinking and anxiety. Salivary cortisol concentration, heart rate and blood pressure were measured over the course of the experimental session. Immersion in the virtual-reality session elicited anxiety as indexed by the Beck's anxiety inventory ( p<0.005), and increased cortisol concentration ( p=0.05), heart rate ( p<0.05) and systolic blood pressure ( p<0.05). However, cannabidiol had no impact upon any of these effects, except for a strong trend to increase anxiety ( p=0.09). Cannabidiol had no effect on persecutory ideation as assayed by the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences questionnaire or the State Social Paranoia Scale. In contrast to previous studies, there was no evidence of any benefits of cannabidiol on anxiety or persecutory ideation in healthy volunteers with high trait paranoia. However, a larger sample will be required for a definitive study.

Testing the Trower and Chadwick model of paranoia: Is ‘poor-me’ and ‘bad-me’ paranoia acting as a defence?

The study tested the predicted differences in phenomenology (self-esteem and depression) and insecurity of the subgroups of paranoia proposed by the Trower and Chadwick (1995) model of paranoia. Thirty-two inpatients experiencing persecutory delusions were assigned to either the poor me or bad me paranoid group. Questionnaire assessment of depression and self-esteem were conducted. A Dot Probe task measured detection latency (reaction time) to poor me words, bad me words and neutral words. The poor me and bad me groups displayed the predicted phenomenological differences. The dot probe task did not support the predicted insecurities of the Trower and Chadwick model, but unexpected significant results for the poor me subgroup may offer support for an alternative explanation of paranoia as an unstable phenomenon.

SU49. Do Psychosis Biotypes Differ Across Traditional Schizophrenia Subtypes?

Abstract Background: The diagnosis of schizophrenia included subtypes until the advent of DSM 5 when the subtypes were removed. The diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia was often thought to reflect higher levels of functioning and cognition without prominent disorganized cognition and behavior and affective flattening. The traditional subtyping, however, has thus far received little biological validation. The Bipolar Schizophrenia Network of Intermediate Phenotypes (BSNIP I) study recently found people with psychosis could be divided into 3 groups based on biomarkers reflecting cognitive and sensorimotor functioning. In this study, we investigated whether the traditional subtypes map well to the biological subtyping of schizophrenia. Methods: The schizophrenia sample (N = 406), drawn from BSNIP I, was diagnosed using DSM-IV-TR SCID interviews and consensus diagnostic conferences. The 2 groups included a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia (n = 267) vs all other schizophrenia subtypes (disorganized, undifferentiated, catatonic, and residual) (n = 139). They were compared on cognition using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) and psychopathological ratings across Biotype 1 (n = 130), Biotype 2 (n = 119), and Biotype 3 (n = 101) and diagnostic subtype. Results: There were no clinically significant differences between the paranoid group and other schizophrenia subtypes on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (total Positive, Negative, and General Psychopathology subscales), Global Assessment of Functions, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale total depression score, and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia total and individual cognitive test z score. All 3 biotypes were represented across all the DSM subtypes of schizophrenia. Biotype 1 was somewhat over-represented in the nonparanoid schizophrenia groups (57% of the disorganized group, 50% of the undifferentiated group, and 43% of the residual group [P = .026]), while the paranoid schizophrenia group was similarly distributed across all 3 biotypes (Biotype 1: 31%, Biotype 2: 37%, and Biotype 3: 32%). Conclusion: Traditional subtyping of schizophrenia based on symptomatology has been criticized for lack of biological validity. Our observations of no clinically significant differences between the paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenia groups in cognition and symptoms are therefore not surprising. However, the relatively large preponderance of nonparanoid subgroups, especially of the disorganized subgroup in Biotype 1 is intriguing. Given that Biotype 1 has the most prominent brain structural and physiological alterations, it is possible that there are subtle neurobiological distinctions between the clinical subtypes of schizophrenia, which warrant further investigation.

Study of Depressive Illness in Retired People of South Indian Population

120 retired patients are selected and counseled psychiatrically. These are grouped into two, 1. Sixty patients who were directly related to peopleevery day during their service. 2. Sixty patients whowere not directly relatedto people in everyday. In group (1) two major depressive illnesses (33.3%), two anxiety disorders (33.3%) and one paranoid reactive patient (1.6%) and group 2has two sleep disturbances (3.33%) and one dementia(1.6%) patient. Group 1 has 8.3% and group two has 4.9% depressive illness is diagnosed. This study will certainly help the physician and psychiatrist because in the present study, depressive illness associated with carcinoma, cardiac, DM, Strokes are excluded.

Magnetic resonance imaging study of corpus callosum abnormalities in patients with different subtypes of schizophrenia

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background.&lt;/strong&gt; Reductions in the size of the corpus callosum (CC) have been described for schizophrenia patients, but little is known about the possible regional differences in schizophrenia subtypes (paranoid, disorganised, undifferentiated, residual). &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods. &lt;/strong&gt;We recruited 58 chronically schizophrenic patients with different subtypes, and 31 age-and-gender matched healthy controls. The callosum was extracted from a midsagittal slice from T1 weighted magnetic resonance images, and areas of the total CC, its five subregions, CC length and total brain volume were compared between schizophrenia subtypes and controls. Five subregions were approximately matched to fibre pathways from cortical regions. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results. &lt;/strong&gt;Schizophrenia patients had reduced CC total area and length when compared with controls. Disorganised and undifferentiated schizophrenics had a smaller prefrontal area, while there was no significant difference for the paranoid and residual groups. The premotor/supplementary motor area was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes. The motor area was smaller only in the disorganised group. A smaller sensory area was found in all subtypes except the residual group. Parietal, temporal and occipital areas were smaller in the paranoid and undifferentiated groups. Total brain volume was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes compared with controls, but did not reach statistical significance. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion. &lt;/strong&gt;These findings suggest that the heterogeneity of symptoms may lead to the different CC morphological characteristics in schizophrenia subtypes.&lt;/p&gt;

Magnetic resonance imaging study of corpus callosum abnormalities in patients with different subtypes of schizophrenia

Background. Reductions in the size of the corpus callosum (CC) have been described for schizophrenia patients, but little is known about the possible regional differences in schizophrenia subtypes (paranoid, disorganised, undifferentiated, residual). Methods. We recruited 58 chronically schizophrenic patients with different subtypes, and 31 age-and-gender matched healthy controls. The callosum was extracted from a midsagittal slice from T1 weighted magnetic resonance images, and areas of the total CC, its five subregions, CC length and total brain volume were compared between schizophrenia subtypes and controls. Five subregions were approximately matched to fibre pathways from cortical regions. Results. Schizophrenia patients had reduced CC total area and length when compared with controls. Disorganised and undifferentiated schizophrenics had a smaller prefrontal area, while there was no significant difference for the paranoid and residual groups. The premotor/supplementary motor area was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes. The motor area was smaller only in the disorganised group. A smaller sensory area was found in all subtypes except the residual group. Parietal, temporal and occipital areas were smaller in the paranoid and undifferentiated groups. Total brain volume was smaller in all schizophrenia subtypes compared with controls, but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion. These findings suggest that the heterogeneity of symptoms may lead to the different CC morphological characteristics in schizophrenia subtypes.

Psychological peculiarities of auditory cognitive defect when psychopathology

Work is executed on faculty of normal physiology of Saint-Petersburg state pediatric medical University of the Ministry of health of Russia and St. Petersburg psycho-neurological dispensary N 1. Of the existing Arsenal of psychophysiological methods in this study, we used the original method of studying perception of auditory images and psychological analysis of the status of higher mental functions in patients suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and control group. With increasing levels of anxiety, both healthy subjects and in patients of any information provided may be assessed as important. In such circumstances, the inhibition processes touch flow reduced and insignificant background is estimated sick longer than healthy. Normal perception clean and noisy auditory images has high identifiability (95 %) and efficiency with latent period of 4.2-8.4 C. Taking into account time for вербализацию a decision and biologically significant effect on the perceived information, this time interval corresponds to the physiological norm. The effectiveness of the perception of auditory images in chronic psychopathology is within 40-75 %, and the latent period - within 11.2-24.3 with that 2.6-2.9 times exceeds the normative time of identification. Reduction in speed and efficiency of information-analytical activities in psychopathological disorders caused, apparently, by the decrease of the functional state of stem-reticular structures included in the first structural-functional Department of the auditory analyzer. The dependence of the quality of auditory-cognitive activity not only from the functional state of cortical fields, responsible for attention, perception, recognition, remembering, but also on the state of slightly-stem systems of the brain responsible tone and reactivity of the brain. Registered reliable link of functional reduce nonspecific brain systems in violation of the neurophysiological mechanisms of perception.

Psychological peculiarities of auditory cognitive defect when psychopathology

Work is executed on faculty of normal physiology of Saint-Petersburg state pediatric medical University of the Ministry of health of Russia and St. Petersburg psycho-neurological dispensary N 1. Of the existing Arsenal of psychophysiological methods in this study, we used the original method of studying perception of auditory images and psychological analysis of the status of higher mental functions in patients suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and control group. With increasing levels of anxiety, both healthy subjects and in patients of any information provided may be assessed as important. In such circumstances, the inhibition processes touch flow reduced and insignificant background is estimated sick longer than healthy. Normal perception clean and noisy auditory images has high identifiability (95 %) and efficiency with latent period of 4.2-8.4 C. Taking into account time for вербализацию a decision and biologically significant effect on the perceived information, this time interval corresponds to the physiological norm. The effectiveness of the perception of auditory images in chronic psychopathology is within 40- 75 %, and the latent period - within 11.2-24.3 with that 2.6-2.9 times exceeds the normative time of identification. Reduction in speed and efficiency of information-analytical activities in psychopathological disorders caused, apparently, by the decrease of the functional state of stem-reticular structures included in the first structural-functional Department of the auditory analyzer. The dependence of the quality of auditory-cognitive activity not only from the functional state of cortical fields, responsible for attention, perception, recognition, remembering, but also on the state of slightly-stem systems of the brain responsible tone and reactivity of the brain. Registered reliable link of functional reduce nonspecific brain systems in violation of the neurophysiological mechanisms of perception.

The association of implicit and explicit self-esteem and trait paranoia

Recent models of paranoia have emphasized the role of emotional factors such as self-esteem (SE). Previous findings with clinical populations support that persecutory delusion reflects a defense against low conscious SE. The present study aims to analyze whether this assumption is valid in non-clinical individuals with high suspiciousness. A sample of 211 undergraduates is evaluated with measures of paranoia, depression, and explicit and implicit SE. Groups of highly suspicious, depressed and control individuals are compared. Results support that non-clinical paranoia is not associated with low implicit SE. Against it was expected, the paranoid group showed a similar positive level of implicit SE than those of depressed and healthy control groups. In addition, non-clinical paranoia was not associated to discrepant SE, that is, to negative implicit but positive explicit SE. It is possible that in non-psychotic population persecutory believes are not motivated by a psychotic defense.

Self-esteem and evaluative beliefs in paranoia

Background and objectivesPsychological models have implicated negative self-esteem as an important factor underlying paranoia. However, research investigating the role of self-esteem in paranoia suffers from poor conceptual and methodological understanding, resulting in conflicting findings. Central to this problem is the use of measures investigating global self-esteem and self-evaluative beliefs interchangeably. In the present study we aimed to analyze differences in self-esteem domains and self-evaluation. MethodsThe present study used interviews and questionnaires to compare a clinical sample of participants who were currently paranoid (n = 55) with healthy controls (n = 57) on global self-esteem domains and negative evaluative beliefs, in order to investigate the multi-faceted role of “the self”. ResultsThere was no significant difference in self-esteem domains between groups, highlighting that self-esteem is preserved in currently paranoid individuals. However, the paranoid group had significantly more negative evaluative beliefs. Interestingly, our global measures of self-esteem and measures of negative evaluative beliefs were uncorrelated, highlighting the importance of understanding the differences underlying these concepts. LimitationsThis study does not address dynamic aspects of self-esteem and self-evaluation. ConclusionsThe present study provides undeniable evidence to investigate self-concept dimensions separately. These findings must be considered by researchers interested in the role of the self in the onset and maintenance of paranoia.

Do patients with paranoid and disorganized schizophrenia respond differently to antipsychotic drugs?

The aim of this study was to compare the differential response to amisulpride in patients with paranoid versus disorganized schizophrenia. We reanalyzed the original data from five different randomized drug trials comparing Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores in a database containing 427 paranoid and 296 disorganized patients with schizophrenia. Both the disorganized and the paranoid group showed a substantial improvement of the BPRS total score within the first 4 weeks. In the paranoid group, mean (±SD) BPRS reduction was 16.9 (±14.6) (t = 24.06, df = 426, P < 0.001) and in the disorganized group 17.0 (±15.9) (t = 18.49, df = 295, P < 0.001). An analysis of covariance (ancova) controlling for BPRS at baseline and the influence of different trial protocols showed significant differences between diagnostic groups (F = 13.47, df = 1, P < 0.001), Cohen's D 0.31 (CI = 0.16-0.46). Paranoid patients improved by 4.8 BPRS points more than disorganized patients (adjusted means 18.90 (CI = 17.33-20.37) for the paranoid and 14.1 (CI = 12.04 - 16.11) for the disorganized group. We conclude that amisulpride is effective in disorganized as well as in paranoid schizophrenia, but that symptom reduction in the disorganized subtype is less pronounced.

1001 – Delusional themes in paranoid schizophrenia and persistent delusional disorder

Delusion is one of the most characteristic features of all psychotic disorders. It is an essential symptom for both paranoid schizophrenia and persistent delusional disorder. Although delusion in schizophrenia is described as unorganized and organized in persistent delusional disorder, the delusional themes within these psychosis are relatively similar, with the exception of bizarre delusion which is considered as belonging to schizophrenia. Identifying the types of delusions in long-term evolution of patients with paranoid schizophrenia and persistent delusional disorder and comparing the frequency of their occurrence in the two groups. Highlighting significant differences in the frequency of delusional themes in long-term evolution of the two groups of subjects with the diagnosis we mentioned above. We formed a sample of 60 subjects with persistent delusional disorder and a sample of 34 subjects with paranoid schizophrenia. Patients from both groups had an average course of illness of 10 years. We have quantified for each patient the number of hospital admissions during which they tested positive for a certain type of delusion. Within the persistent delusional disorder group the most frequent type of delusion was of persecution, followed by delusions of reference. Delusions of persecution and delusions of being followed found to be the most common delusional themes in the paranoid schizophrenia group. We have not found significant differences between the two groups regarding the type of delusions, with the exception of bizarre delusions. The paranoid theme is the most common theme for both types of pathologies.

Implicit and explicit self-esteem discrepancies in paranoia and depression.

The main purpose of the present study was to examine implicit and explicit self-esteem (SE) in patients with persecutory delusions. In samples of paranoid patients, depressed patients, and healthy controls, implicit SE was assessed using the experimental go/no-go association task, whereas explicit SE was measured using 2 self-reporting questionnaires: the self-worth subscale of the World Assumption Scale (Janoff-Bulman, 1989) and the self-acceptance subscale of the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff & Keyes, 1995). Our analysis revealed that depressed patients showed lower explicit SE than did paranoid and healthy control participants. However, participants with persecutory delusions had significantly lower implicit SE scores than did healthy controls. We interpret the discrepancies observed between overt and covert measures in the paranoid group as psychological defense mechanisms. The present study stresses the clinical and theoretical importance of the use of implicit measures in psychopathology.

Predictors of subjective well-being in patients with paranoid symptoms: Is insight necessarily advantageous?

In schizophrenia, poor insight has been associated with negative outcome. In fact, some studies have found insight to be associated with greater treatment adherence and lower levels of symptomatology, as well as better psychosocial functioning. However, others have found that insight into illness is associated with an increase in depression, low self-esteem, and possibly higher risk of suicide. We investigated the relationship between insight and well-being in a sample of 40 people presenting paranoid symptoms and diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder. Independent-samples t-tests revealed that compared to a paranoid group with high insight, paranoid participants with low insight had more self-acceptance, higher sense of autonomy and personal growth, and greater orientation towards gratification. Moderation analyses showed that when experiential avoidance was high, insight into paranoia had a detrimental effect on self-acceptance. Overall, our results support the need to explore which psychological variables moderate insight in patients with persecutory beliefs. We discuss the implications of these results for the research of paranoia.

Characteristics of Clients Nursed in Professional Nursing Model, Psychiatric Unit, Dr. H. Marzuki Mahdi Hospital Bogor

Since September 2000, Community and Mental Health Department Faculty of Nursing University of Indonesia, have developed Professional Nursing Practice Model (PNPM) on Psychiatric Nursing at Dr. H. Marzoeki Mahdi Health Hospital. PNPM at Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital is the first PNPM especially for mental health. The study was a quantitative cross sectional study conducted during the period February 4th to July 30th 2001 and covering 79 client. The aim of the study was to identify characteristics of clients at PNPM. It was found that most of the clients were males, aged 20-55 years, living in the area of Jabotabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi), especially in Bogor, the city of the hospital. Most of them had no job, with a senior high school education whereas the number with unmarried status was nearly the same with the number with married status and belonged to the Sundanese ethnic group. Characteristics of the family were mostly as followed: big family, with more than 2 children, closed communication and family meeting during meals. On health status it was found that clients were admitted to the hospital because of angry/violence, angry/violence and talking/laughing by themselves, whereas the number of clients in the group never nursed in a hospital before were nearly the same as the number in the group ever nursed before, with average length of staying in hospital 9 days. It was revealed that the problem of hallucination was mostly found among the nursing problems. Health education was mostly on efforts to eliminate paranoid problems and Activity Group Therapy was focused on efforts to socialize the clients. The medical diagnosis of most of the clients was paranoid schizophrenia. It was concluded that in this study characteristics of the clients in PNPM was very varied. For optimal nursing criteria of clients at PNPM who should be admitted should be established.

The Paranoid in Psychoanalytic Theory. The Paranoid Group in German, French and Spanish Psychiatry . The Schreber Case. (B.Sc. Thesis)

The Paranoid in Psychoanalytic Theory. The Paranoid Group in German, French and Spanish Psychiatry . The Schreber Case. (B.Sc. Thesis)