Schematic beliefs, negative affect and paranoia in at‐risk youth

Abstract

Objectives: Attenuated symptoms of psychosis are a core feature of At-Risk Mental States. However, subthreshold levels of paranoia are also common among nonpsychosis populations. At present, little is known about whether the processes underpinning the experience of paranoid ideation in high-risk youth differ as a consequence of meeting At-Risk Mental States (ARMS) for psychosis criteria. Methods: This study utilized path analysis techniques to examine the relationships between schematic beliefs, negative affect and the experience of paranoia for two groups: a group meeting criteria for ARMS (n = 133) and a group presenting with emerging complex mental health difficulties who did not meet the criteria for ARMS (n = 137). Results: While the ARMS group displayed significantly greater maladaptive schematic beliefs and more severe symptomatology, the associations between schematic beliefs, symptoms of negative affect and paranoia did not differ as a consequence of ARMS status. Conclusions: While meeting the ARMS criteria is associated with experiencing more maladaptive cognitions and more negative symptomatology among at-risk youth, the associations between these cognitive beliefs and symptoms may be similar for youth who do not meet ARMS. These findings have implications for broadening the scope of atrisk/high-risk and for developing effective interventions for young people presenting with emerging difficulties.