Relations between changes in safety behavior, paranoid ideations, cognitive biases, and clinical characteristics of patients with a psychotic disorder over time
(2024) In Schizophrenia Research 272. p.98-103- Abstract
Background: Safety behaviors, both positive (maladaptive coping behavior) and negative (avoidance behavior), are used by people with paranoid delusions to avoid perceived threats. Safety behaviors contribute to the persistence of paranoid delusions by preventing disconfirmation of threat beliefs and may influence other psychiatric symptoms. This study investigated how changes in safety behaviors are related to changes in paranoid ideation, social anxiety, depression, cognitive biases and self-esteem over time. Methods: This study included 116 patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) and at least moderate levels of paranoid ideations (GTPS >40).The data were collected as part of a multi-center randomized controlled trial... (More)
Background: Safety behaviors, both positive (maladaptive coping behavior) and negative (avoidance behavior), are used by people with paranoid delusions to avoid perceived threats. Safety behaviors contribute to the persistence of paranoid delusions by preventing disconfirmation of threat beliefs and may influence other psychiatric symptoms. This study investigated how changes in safety behaviors are related to changes in paranoid ideation, social anxiety, depression, cognitive biases and self-esteem over time. Methods: This study included 116 patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) and at least moderate levels of paranoid ideations (GTPS >40).The data were collected as part of a multi-center randomized controlled trial where patients were randomized to VR-CBT (n = 58) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 58). Assessments were completed at baseline (T0), after three months (T3) and after six months (T6). For all variables, change scores between T0 and T3 and T3 and T6 were calculated and Pearson correlations between change scores were computed. Results: A decrease in total safety behavior was related to diminished paranoid ideation, social anxiety, and depression. No significant temporal associations were found between changes in safety behavior and changes in cognitive biases and self-esteem. Similar but less robust results were found for respectively negative safety behavior and positive safety behavior. Conclusion: Dropping safety behavior can be specifically targeted in behavioral interventions. Whereas there appears to be a relation with reduction in anxiety, paranoia, and depressive symptoms, changes in safety behavior do not seem to align with changes in cognitive thinking processes.
(Less)
- author
- Berkhof, M. ; van der Stouwe, E. C.D. ; Geraets, C. N.W. LU ; Pot-Kolder, R. M.C.A. ; van der Gaag, M. and Veling, W.
- publishing date
- 2024-10
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Avoidance;maladaptive coping behavior, Paranoia, Psychosis, Safety behavior, Schizophrenia
- in
- Schizophrenia Research
- volume
- 272
- pages
- 6 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85202646801
- pmid:39214023
- ISSN
- 0920-9964
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.schres.2024.08.005
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
- id
- 429d0af4-e614-4f49-92e1-fc0d1290d6ad
- date added to LUP
- 2024-10-21 10:39:37
- date last changed
- 2025-07-15 09:28:59
@article{429d0af4-e614-4f49-92e1-fc0d1290d6ad,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Safety behaviors, both positive (maladaptive coping behavior) and negative (avoidance behavior), are used by people with paranoid delusions to avoid perceived threats. Safety behaviors contribute to the persistence of paranoid delusions by preventing disconfirmation of threat beliefs and may influence other psychiatric symptoms. This study investigated how changes in safety behaviors are related to changes in paranoid ideation, social anxiety, depression, cognitive biases and self-esteem over time. Methods: This study included 116 patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) and at least moderate levels of paranoid ideations (GTPS >40).The data were collected as part of a multi-center randomized controlled trial where patients were randomized to VR-CBT (n = 58) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 58). Assessments were completed at baseline (T0), after three months (T3) and after six months (T6). For all variables, change scores between T0 and T3 and T3 and T6 were calculated and Pearson correlations between change scores were computed. Results: A decrease in total safety behavior was related to diminished paranoid ideation, social anxiety, and depression. No significant temporal associations were found between changes in safety behavior and changes in cognitive biases and self-esteem. Similar but less robust results were found for respectively negative safety behavior and positive safety behavior. Conclusion: Dropping safety behavior can be specifically targeted in behavioral interventions. Whereas there appears to be a relation with reduction in anxiety, paranoia, and depressive symptoms, changes in safety behavior do not seem to align with changes in cognitive thinking processes.</p>}},
author = {{Berkhof, M. and van der Stouwe, E. C.D. and Geraets, C. N.W. and Pot-Kolder, R. M.C.A. and van der Gaag, M. and Veling, W.}},
issn = {{0920-9964}},
keywords = {{Avoidance;maladaptive coping behavior; Paranoia; Psychosis; Safety behavior; Schizophrenia}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{98--103}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Schizophrenia Research}},
title = {{Relations between changes in safety behavior, paranoid ideations, cognitive biases, and clinical characteristics of patients with a psychotic disorder over time}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2024.08.005}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.schres.2024.08.005}},
volume = {{272}},
year = {{2024}},
}