Bidirectional pathways between psychosocial risk factors and paranoid ideation in a general nonclinical population

Abstract

We investigated (a) whether psychosocial factors (experienced stress, anticipatory worry, social detachment, sleeping disturbances, alcohol use) predict the course of paranoid ideation between the ages of 24 to 50 years and (b) whether the predictive relationships are more likely to proceed from the psychosocial factors to paranoid ideation, or vice versa. The participants (N = 1534–1553) came from the population-based Young Finns study. Paranoid ideation and psychosocial factors were assessed by reliable self-report questionnaires in 2001, 2007, and 2011/2012. The data were analyzed using growth curve and structural equation models. High experienced stress, anticipatory worry, social detachment, frequent sleeping disturbances, and frequent alcohol use predicted more paranoid ideation. More risk factors predicted increasing paranoid ideation. There were bidirectional predictive relationships of paranoid ideation with experienced stress, anticipatory worry, social detachment, and sleeping disturbances. The link between alcohol use and paranoid ideation was only correlative. In conclusion, paranoid ideation increases by reciprocal interactions with stress, worry, social detachment, and sleeping disturbances. The findings support the threat–anticipation model of paranoid ideation, providing important implications for treatment of paranoia.

Uso de Alcohol o Sustancias Durante la Cuarentena: Sintomatología Psicopatológica y Estrategias de Afrontamiento

“…Los resultados obtenidos revelaron mayor sintomatología de ideación paranoide en el grupo de uso de alcohol o sustancias en comparación a las personas con poco o ningún uso. Estos hallazgos son congruentes con estudios previos en donde se ha encontrado una asociación significativa entre niveles altos de consumo de alcohol, cannabis, anfetamina y heroína con experiencias psicóticas (Borger et al, 2016) y una relación entre e ideación paranoide y el uso de alcohol (Saarinen et al, 2020). Esta relación cobra mayor relevancia debido a que un estudio realizado en personas que padecen del Trastorno por Uso de Sustancias encontró una relación entre este diagnóstico y síntomas psicóticos (Brunnette et al, 2017).…”

The Pandemic Paranoia Scale (PPS): factor structure and measurement invariance across languages

“…The pandemic has created an environment that contains many of the characteristics that we know give rise to paranoia in the general population such as stress, worry, social detachment and isolation, loss of work, anxiety and depression (e.g. Lamster, Lincoln, Nittel, Rief, & Mehl, 2016 ; Olfson et al, 2002 ; Saarinen et al, 2020 ; Startup, Freeman, & Garety, 2007 ). Furthermore, and with reference to paranoia, it has introduced a heightened state of fear and anxiety as to whether others’ actions and intentions can be trusted.…”

“…The pandemic has created an environment that contains many of the characteristics that we know give rise to paranoia in the general population such as stress, worry, social detachment and isolation, loss of work, anxiety and depression (e.g. Lamster, Lincoln, Nittel, Rief, & Mehl, 2016;Olfson et al, 2002;Saarinen et al, 2020;Startup, Freeman, & Garety, 2007). Furthermore, and with reference to paranoia, it has introduced a heightened state of fear and anxiety as to whether others' actions and intentions can be trusted.…”