BACKGROUND: Cognitive models propose that faulty appraisal of anomalous experiences is critical in developing psychosis, particularly delusions. A data gathering bias may be fundamental to abnormal appraisal. AIMS: To examine whether there is a data gathering bias in people at high risk of developing psychosis. METHOD: Individuals with an at-risk mental state (n=35) were compared with a matched group of healthy volunteers (n=23). Participants were tested using a modified version of the 'beads' reasoning task with different levels of task difficulty. RESULTS: When task demands were high, the at-risk group made judgements on the basis of less information than the control group (P<0.05). Within both groups, jumping to conclusions was directly correlated with the severity of abnormal beliefs and intolerance of uncertainty (P<0.05). In the at-risk group it was also associated with impaired working memory (P<0.05), whereas in the control group poor working memory was associated with a more conservative response style (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: People with an at-risk mental state display a jumping to conclusions reasoning style, associated with impaired working memory and intolerance of uncertainty. This may underlie a tendency to develop abnormal beliefs and a vulnerability to psychosis.
BACKGROUND: Cognitive models propose that faulty appraisal of anomalous experiences is critical in developing psychosis, particularly delusions. A data gathering bias may be fundamental to abnormal appraisal. AIMS: To examine whether there is a data gathering bias in people at high risk of developing psychosis. METHOD: Individuals with an at-risk mental state (n=35) were compared with a matched group of healthy volunteers (n=23). Participants were tested using a modified version of the 'beads' reasoning task with different levels of task difficulty. RESULTS: When task demands were high, the at-risk group made judgements on the basis of less information than the control group (P<0.05). Within both groups, jumping to conclusions was directly correlated with the severity of abnormal beliefs and intolerance of uncertainty (P<0.05). In the at-risk group it was also associated with impaired working memory (P<0.05), whereas in the control group poor working memory was associated with a more conservative response style (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:People with an at-risk mental state display a jumping to conclusions reasoning style, associated with impaired working memory and intolerance of uncertainty. This may underlie a tendency to develop abnormal beliefs and a vulnerability to psychosis.
Authors: Nicolas A Crossley; Andrea Mechelli; Paolo Fusar-Poli; Matthew R Broome; Pall Matthiasson; Louise C Johns; Elvira Bramon; Lucia Valmaggia; Steven C R Williams; Philip K McGuire Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Yulia Landa; Kim T Mueser; Katarzyna E Wyka; Erica Shreck; Rachel Jespersen; Michael A Jacobs; Kenneth W Griffin; Mark van der Gaag; Valerie F Reyna; Aaron T Beck; David A Silbersweig; John T Walkup Journal: Early Interv Psychiatry Date: 2015-01-13 Impact factor: 2.732
Authors: Joseph S DeLuca; Nicole D Andorko; Doha Chibani; Samantha Y Jay; Pamela J Rakhshan Rouhakhtar; Emily Petti; Mallory J Klaunig; Elizabeth C Thompson; Zachary B Millman; Kathleen M Connors; LeeAnn Akouri-Shan; John Fitzgerald; Samantha L Redman; Caroline Roemer; Miranda A Bridgwater; Jordan E DeVylder; Cheryl A King; Steven C Pitts; Shauna P Reinblatt; Heidi J Wehring; Kristin L Bussell; Natalee Solomon; Sarah M Edwards; Gloria M Reeves; Robert W Buchanan; Jason Schiffman Journal: J Psychother Integr Date: 2020-06