Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive models propose that faulty appraisal of anomalous experiences is critical in developing psychosis, particularly delusions. A data gathering bias may be fundamental to abnormal appraisal. AIMS: To examine whether there is a data gathering bias in people at high risk of developing psychosis. METHOD: Individuals with an at-risk mental state (n=35) were compared with a matched group of healthy volunteers (n=23). Participants were tested using a modified version of the 'beads' reasoning task with different levels of task difficulty. RESULTS: When task demands were high, the at-risk group made judgements on the basis of less information than the control group (P<0.05). Within both groups, jumping to conclusions was directly correlated with the severity of abnormal beliefs and intolerance of uncertainty (P<0.05). In the at-risk group it was also associated with impaired working memory (P<0.05), whereas in the control group poor working memory was associated with a more conservative response style (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: People with an at-risk mental state display a jumping to conclusions reasoning style, associated with impaired working memory and intolerance of uncertainty. This may underlie a tendency to develop abnormal beliefs and a vulnerability to psychosis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1192/bjp.191.51.s38

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Psychiatry Suppl

Publication Date

12/2007

Volume

51

Pages

s38 - s42

Keywords

Adult, Delusions, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Intelligence, Judgment, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Problem Solving, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychotic Disorders