Immediate and short term effects of values-based interventions on paranoia

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• Paranoia is a prevalent and distressing experience impacting health and functioning.
• Understanding effective interventions for paranoia is crucial for improving well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of two values-based interventions on paranoia.
• To examine the short-term impact (2 weeks) of these interventions.
• To assess the moderating role of self-esteem in the intervention's effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• 171 non-clinical adults were randomized into three groups: value-affirmation and goals task (VAG), value-affirmation task (VA), or a non-affirmation control (NAC).
• Paranoia was measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and two weeks post-intervention.
• Self-esteem was measured at baseline to explore its moderating effect.

Main Results:

• The VAG group showed significantly lower state paranoia scores at the 2-week follow-up compared to both VA and NAC groups.
• The effectiveness of the interventions was moderated by trait self-esteem.
• Individuals with low self-esteem benefited most from the VAG intervention, while the VA intervention was least beneficial for this subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Focusing on deeply held values and setting aligned goals can reduce paranoia.
• The value-affirmation and goals task (VAG) intervention shows promise, particularly for individuals with low self-esteem.
• Further research with a goals-only control group is warranted to isolate the effect of goal setting.