Relations between changes in safety behavior, paranoid ideations, cognitive biases, and clinical characteristics of patients with a psychotic disorder over time

• DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.08.005
• Publication Date: 2024-08-29T13:15:05Z
• Authors: M. Berkhof; E.C.D. van der St...; C.N.W. Geraets; R.M.C.A. Pot-Kolder; M. van der Gaag; W. Veling
• Keywords: Paranoid Disorders; Persistence (discontinuity); Safety behaviors

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 the persistence of preventing disconfirmation threat beliefs may influence other psychiatric symptoms.This study investigated how changes in safety related ideation, social anxiety, depression, cognitive biases self-esteem over time.Methods: This included 116 patients diagnosed a psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) at least moderate levels ideations (GTPS >40).The data were collected as part multi-center randomized controlled trial where VR-CBT (n = 58) or treatment usual (TAU; n 58).Assessments completed baseline (T0), after three months (T3) six (T6).For all variables, change scores between T0 T3 T6 calculated Pearson correlations computed.Results: A decrease total behavior was diminished depression.No significant temporal associations found self-esteem.Similar but less robust results for respectively behavior.Conclusion: Dropping can be specifically targeted behavioral interventions.Whereas there appears relation reduction paranoia, depressive symptoms, do not seem align thinking processes.