Targeting Self-Cognitions in Adolescents with Paranoia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Self-Cognitions in Adolescent Paranoia: a Causal-Interventionist Test with Young People Attending CAMHS.
IRAS ID
326269
Contact name
Jessica McGovern
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
not applicable, not applicable
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
One in three adolescents in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) experience paranoia. Paranoia can emerge and cause significant concern during adolescence. Beliefs about the self cause and maintain paranoia in adults. The development of self-beliefs is a fundamental developmental task during adolescence and thus, self-beliefs may be an important factor in the onset, occurrence, and treatment of adolescent paranoia.
This study aims to examine for the first time the role of negative and positive thoughts about the self (self-cognitions) in the occurrence of state paranoia in adolescents using an experimental design known as a causal interventionist paradigm.
Help-seeking adolescents with paranoia within NHS CAMHS will be randomly assigned to receive an intervention that targets self-cognition or to a control group. In the active intervention group, a (1-hour) imagery intervention will be used to increase positive self-cognitions and decrease negative self-cognitions. The control group will generate a neutral image (e.g. the weather). Outcomes for paranoia, positive, and negative self-cognition, affect (feeling) will be assessed pre-intervention, at 4 timepoints across the 1-hour active/control condition, and post-intervention and will be compared between intervention/control groups. Based on the literature, we would expect to find a medium to large effect size for changes in paranoia and negative self-beliefs. We will also test if any effect of this imagery intervention happens through changes in self-cognitions or affect and if presence of ongoing trauma moderates outcomes.
If the intervention is found to be beneficial (reduce paranoia and negative self-beliefs and increase positive self-beliefs) it will be delivered repeatedly (4 x 1-hour interventions) to two of the sample of adolescents recruited to test any effects of delivering this intervention in the longer-term.
Results will inform our current understanding and treatment of adolescent paranoia by examining the proposed role of self-cognitions in its occurrence.REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
23/NI/0133
Date of REC Opinion
25 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion