Psychosocial predictors of distressing unusual experiences in adolescence: Testing the fit of an adult cognitive model of psychosis.
K. Gin, Catherine Stewart, C. Abbott, P. Banerjea, K. Bracegirdle, S. Browning, M. Byrne, R. Emsley, Cedric E. Ginestet, C. Hirsch, Elizabeth Kuipers, Kristin R. Laurens, Juliana Onwumere, D. Plant, L. Valmaggia, S. Jolley
Schizophrenia Research August 27, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.08.018 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 122 |
| Population | Clinically referred adolescents aged 12-18 years with self-reported Unusual Experiences |
| Key findings | Psychological mechanisms from adult cognitive models of psychosis (negative life events, affect, jumping-to-conclusions reasoning, and schemas) explained 89% of the variance in adolescent Unusual Experience severity, with schemas the principal significant contributor; explained variance was 40-72% across individual experience types. The authors suggest these mechanisms are also implicated in adolescent unusual experiences. |
Abstract
Background: For adults with psychosis, international guidelines recommend individual and family based cognitive behavioural therapy interventions. Recommendations are extended to children and adolescents, based on adult research. It is also recommended that psychological interventions are offered for childhood presentations of psychotic-like or Unusual Experiences (UE), in the absence of a formal diagnosis, when these are Distressing (UEDs). Cognitive models underpinning these interventions require testing in adolescent populations, to further refine therapies. We address this need, by testing for the first time, the application of the adult cognitive model of psychosis to adolescent UEDs.
Methods: We used baseline data from the Coping with Unusual ExperienceS (CUES+) randomised controlled trial for 122 clinically referred adolescents (12-18 years) with self-reported UEDs. Known psychological mechanisms of adult cognitive models of psychosis; negative life events, affect (anxiety and depression), reasoning (jumping to conclusions bias), and schemas were investigated using multiple linear regression models, alongside variables particularly associated with the development and severity of adolescent UEDs and UE type (dissociation, externalising/behavioural problems, managing emotions).
Results: The psychological mechanisms of adult cognitive models of psychosis explained 89% of the total variance of adolescent UED severity, F (10, 106) = 99.34, p < .0005, r2 = 0.89, with schemas as the principal significant contributor. Variance explained 40 - 72% across each of the UE types (paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, paranormal thinking and grandiosity).
Conclusions: Findings suggest that the psychological components of adult cognitive models of psychosis, particularly schemas, are also implicated in adolescent UEDs.