How psychotic-like are paranormal beliefs?

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• 作者：Matteo Cella^a ; ^b ; ^{matteo.cella@kcl.ac.uk} ; Marcello Vellante^c ; Antonio Preti^c ; ^d
• 关键词：Psychosis ; Psychotic-like experiences ; Paranormal beliefs ; Hallucinations ; Delusion
• 刊名：Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：143_00057916
• 类别：med
• 出版时间：September, 2012
• 卷：43
• 期：3
• 页码：897-900
• 文件大小：118 K

摘要

Background and objectives

Paranormal beliefs and Psychotic-like Experiences (PLE) are phenotypically similar and can occur in individuals with psychosis but also in the general population; however the relationship of these experiences for psychosis risk is largely unclear. This study investigates the association of PLE and paranormal beliefs with psychological distress.

Methods

Five hundred and three young adults completed measures of paranormal beliefs (Beliefs in the Paranormal Scale), psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire), delusion (Peters et聽al. Delusions Inventory), and hallucination (Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale) proneness.

Results

The frequency and intensity of PLE was higher in believers in the paranormal compared to non-believers, however psychological distress levels were comparable. Regression findings confirmed that paranormal beliefs were predicted by delusion and hallucination-proneness but not psychological distress.

Limitations

The use of a cross-sectional design in a specific young adult population makes the findings exploratory and in need of replication with longitudinal studies.

Conclusions

The predictive value of paranormal beliefs and experiences for psychosis may be limited; appraisal or the belief emotional salience rather than the belief per se may be more relevant risk factors to predict psychotic risk.