How Do We Make Sense Of, and Respond To, Unusual Experiences? Cognitive and Social Processes in the Pathway to Psychosis (UNIQUE) | C4C

Our central research question is this: do specific interpretations (i.e., ‘appraisals’) of psychotic-like experiences differentiate individuals with clinical psychosis from those with benign anomalous experiences, as postulated by recent psychological models of psychosis? This will be tested by exploring real-time appraisals of experimentally-induced anomalous experiences. (Study question 1). Secondly, which psychosocial and cognitive risk factors identified by psychological models are related to maladaptive appraisals of anomalous experiences? (Study Question 2). The expected long term impact will be the identification of treatment targets to ameliorate the distress experienced by individuals with clinical psychosis. In addition, the findings will be relevant to early detection and intervention in the context of clinical psychosis.