Experimental Investigations of Paranoia: a literature review and novel research

Abstract

Paranoid experience across the population has been of increasing interest to psychological researchers in recent years. Paranoia is no longer considered a purely psychiatric phenomenon, with numerous studies demonstrating delusional ideation in non-clinical populations. Theoretical models implicate emotions and beliefs as contributory factors in the most severe form of paranoia; persecutory delusions. Chapter one investigates the contribution of experimental studies investigating anxiety and paranoia to the understanding of the theoretical models of paranoid experience. Using a systematic search strategy and narrative synthesis, the review found extensive variance in design and methodology. Whilst there is some evidence of manipulations impacting paranoia and anxiety, the literature is limited by small samples, lack of replication and weak quality ratings. Further sufficiently powered replication studies and employment of mediational and covariate analyses are required to understand the causal relationships between theoretically relevant variables.

Chapter two presents an experimental investigation into the effect of mental imagery on variables relevant to models of paranoid experience. Large, significant effect sizes were found, although some analyses were underpowered. These results offer tentative support for the impact of mental imagery on factors theorised to be relevant to the experience of paranoid ideation. Theoretical, research and clinical implications are discussed.

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ORCID for Katherine Newman-Taylor: orcid.org/0000-0003-1579-7959

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