Instability in self-esteem and paranoia in a general population sample.

Viviane Thewissen1, Inez Myin-Germeys, Richard Bentall

  • 1Dept. of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616 (DRT 10), 6200, MD, Mastricht, The Netherlands.

Summary

Unstable self-esteem is specifically linked to paranoia, not other psychotic symptoms. This finding supports models where paranoid beliefs stem from difficulties in regulating self-esteem.

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