Are Specific Early-Life Adversities Associated With Specific Symptoms of Psychosis? A Patient Study Considering Just World Beliefs as a Mediator

Wickham, Sophie and Bentall, Richard (2016) Are Specific Early-Life Adversities Associated With Specific Symptoms of Psychosis? A Patient Study Considering Just World Beliefs as a Mediator JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE, 204 (8). pp. 606-613. ISSN 0022-3018, 1539-736X

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Abstract

Epidemiological studies have suggested that there may be associationsbetween specific adversities and specific psychotic symptoms. There is alsoevidence that beliefs about justice may play a role in paranoid symptoms. In thisstudy, we determined whether these associations could be replicated in a patientsample and whether beliefs about a just world played a specific role in the relationshipbetween adversity and paranoia. We examined associations betweenchildhood trauma, belief in justice, and paranoia and hallucinatory experiencesin 144 individuals: 72 individualswith a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrumdisordersand 72 comparison controls. There was a dose-response relationship betweencumulative trauma and psychosis. When controlling for comorbiditybetween symptoms, childhood sexual abuse predicted hallucinatory experiences, and experiences of childhood emotional neglect predicted paranoia. The relationshipbetween neglect and paranoia was mediated by a perception of personal injustice.The findings replicate in a patient sample previous observations fromepidemiological research.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Just world beliefs, paranoia, psychosis, trauma
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	29 Jul 2016 09:06
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 10:13
DOI:	10.1097/NMD.0000000000000511
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3002612
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