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Cognitive Processes during Acute Psychosis: The Role of Heightened Responsibility and Catastrophic Misinterpretations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2009

Olga Luzón ,
Chris Harrop  and
Fiona Nolan
Olga Luzón*
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
Chris Harrop
Affiliation:
West London Mental Health NHS Trust, West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, UK
Fiona Nolan
Affiliation:
University College London, UK
*
Reprint requests to Olga Luzón, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background: This study investigated the role of cognitive mechanisms underlying obsessive compulsive and panic disorders in psychosis, and in particular, their possible contributions to acute psychosis. Method: A total of 90 participants were recruited comprising three equal-size groups, including two clinical groups (acute and stable) and one non-clinical matched control group. Symptom severity and distress was assessed using the PSYRATS, and questionnaire measures of anxiety and obsessive beliefs were administered to all participants. Results: Individuals with a diagnosis of psychosis reported significantly higher levels of obsessional beliefs and anxiety sensitivity than the non-clinical group. Furthermore, acutely psychotic patients reported a significantly higher sense of responsibility and catastrophic misinterpretation than the stable psychiatric controls, and than samples of OCD and GAD patients. Conclusions: Results suggest that these anxiety processes are particularly important during acute psychotic episodes, beyond the reported comorbidity. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings, the limitations of the methodology employed, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

Acute psychosisanxietycatastrophic misinterpretationscognitive distortionsheightened responsibilityobsessive-compulsive disorder
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 37 , Issue 4 , July 2009 , pp. 357 - 377
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2009

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