Objective. To assess the reliability and validity of the Southampton mindfulness questionnaire (SMQ), a 16-item measure of mindful awareness of distressing thoughts and images. Methods. A total of 256 people participated, comprising a non-clinical community sample of 134 (83 meditators and 51 non-meditators) and a clinical sample of 122 people with a current distressing psychosis. To assess concurrent validity, non-clinical participants and half clinical participants (total 197 participants) completed the mindful attention awareness scale (MAAS). Predicted links were assessed with affect, and 59 patients completed a validated measure to assess link between mindfulness and intensity of 'delusional' experience. Results. The scale has a single factor structure, was internally reliable, significantly correlated with the MAAS, showed expected associations with affect, and distinguished among meditators, non-meditators and people with psychosis. Conclusions. The data support use of the SMQ in clinical practice and research to assess mindful responding to distressing thoughts and images.

Responding mindfully to unpleasant thoughts and images: Reliability and validity of the Southampton mindfulness questionnaire (SMQ)

Emotion and psychosis: Links between depression, self-esteem, negative schematic beliefs and delusions and hallucinations

The aim of the study was to elucidate the factors contributing to the severity and persistence of delusional conviction. One hundred participants with current delusions, recruited for a treatment trial of psychological therapy (PRP trial), were assessed at baseline on measures of reasoning, emotions, and dimensions of delusional experience. Reasoning biases (belief inflexibility, jumping to conclusions, and extreme responding) were found to be present in one half of the sample. The hypothesis was confirmed that reasoning biases would be related to delusional conviction. There was evidence that belief inflexibility mediated the relationship between jumping to conclusions and delusional conviction. Emotional states were not associated with the reasoning processes investigated. Anxiety, but not depression, made an independent contribution to delusional conviction.

Reasoning, emotions, and delusional conviction in psychosis.

Background Cognitive—behavioural therapy (CBT) improves persistent psychotic symptoms.

Aims To test the effectiveness of added CBT in accelerating remission from acute psychotic symptoms in early schizophrenia.

Method A 5-week CBT programme plus routine care was compared with supportive counselling plus routine care and routine care alone in a multi-centre trial randomising 315 people with DSM—IV schizophrenia and related disorders in their first (83%) or second acute admission. Outcome assessments were blinded.

Results Linear regression over 70 days showed predicted trends towards faster improvement in the CBT group.

Uncorrected univariate comparisons showed significant benefits at 4 but not 6 weeks for CBT v . routine care alone on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total and positive sub-scale scores and delusion score and benefits v . supportive counselling for auditory hallucinations score.

Conclusions CBT shows transient advantages over routine care alone or supportive counselling in speeding remission from acute symptoms in early schizophrenia.

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Randomised controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy in early schizophrenia: acute-phase outcomes.

BackgroundParanoia is increasingly being studied in clinical and non-clinical populations. However there is no multi-dimensional measure of persecutory ideas developed for use across the general population-psychopathology continuum. This paper reports the development of such a questionnaire: the ‘Green et al. Paranoid Thought Scales’. The aim was to devise a tool to assess ideas of persecution and social reference in a simple self-report format, guided by a current definition of persecutory ideation, and incorporating assessment of conviction, preoccupation and distress.MethodA total of 353 individuals without a history of mental illness, and 50 individuals with current persecutory delusions completed a pool of paranoid items and additional measures to assess validity. Items were devised from a recent definition of persecutory delusions, current assessments of paranoia, the authors' clinical experience, and incorporated dimensions of conviction, preoccupation and distress. Test–retest reliability in the non-clinical group was assessed at 2 weeks follow-up, and clinical change in the deluded group at 6 months follow-up.ResultsTwo 16-item scales were extracted, assessing ideas of social reference and persecution. Good internal consistency and validity was established for both scales and their dimensions. The scales were sensitive to clinical change. A hierarchical relationship between social reference and persecution was found. The data provide further evidence for a continuum of paranoid ideas between deluded and healthy individuals.ConclusionsA reliable and valid tool for assessing paranoid thoughts is presented. It will provide an effective way for researchers to ensure consistency in research and for clinicians to assess change with treatment.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/4FDC2275DF3AE6D44BF86C60AEF84CE5/S0033291707001638a.pdf/div-class-title-measuring-ideas-of-persecution-and-social-reference-the-green-span-class-italic-et-al-span-paranoid-thought-scales-gpts-div.pdf

Measuring ideas of persecution and social reference: the Green et al. Paranoid Thought Scales (GPTS)

BACKGROUND: Scales to measure the severity of different dimensions of auditory hallucinations and delusions are few. Biochemical and psychological treatments target dimensions of symptoms and valid and reliable measures are necessary to measure these. METHOD: The inter-rater reliability and validity of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS: auditory hallucination subscale and delusions subscale), which measure several dimensions of auditory hallucinations and delusions were examined in this study. RESULTS: The two scales were found to have excellent inter-rater reliability. Their validity as compared with the KGV scale (Krawiecka et al. 1977) was explored. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the PSYRATS are useful assessment instruments and can complement existing measures.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033291799008661

J. McCarron

Papers

Scales to measure dimensions of hallucinations and delusions: the psychotic symptom rating scales (PSYRATS).