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A preliminary investigation of schematic beliefs and unusual experiences in children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

D. Noone ,
C. Ames ,
N. Hassanali ,
S. Browning ,
K. Bracegirdle ,
R. Corrigall ,
K.R. Laurens ,
C.R. Hirsch ,
E. Kuipers  and
L. Maddox
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D. Noone
Affiliation:
Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
C. Ames
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
N. Hassanali
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
S. Browning
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
K. Bracegirdle
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
R. Corrigall
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
K.R. Laurens
Affiliation:
National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit (BRC/U) at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK Research Unit for Schizophrenia Epidemiology, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, Australia
C.R. Hirsch
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit (BRC/U) at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
E. Kuipers
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit (BRC/U) at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
L. Maddox
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
D. Fowler
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK
S. Jolley*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
*
⁎Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK. Tel.: +44 20 7848 5028; fax: +44 20 7848 5006. E-mail address:Suzanne.Jolley@kcl.ac.uk (S. Jolley).
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Abstract

Background

In cognitive models of adult psychosis, schematic beliefs about the self and others are important vulnerability and maintaining factors, and are therefore targets for psychological interventions. Schematic beliefs have not previously been investigated in children with distressing unusual, or psychotic-like, experiences (UEDs). The aim of this study was firstly to investigate whether a measure of schematic beliefs, originally designed for adults with psychosis, was suitable for children; and secondly, to examine the association of childhood schematic beliefs with internalising and externalising problems and with UEDs.

Method

Sixty-seven children aged 8–14 years, with emotional and behavioural difficulties, completed measures of UEDs, internalising (depression and anxiety), and externalising (conduct and hyperactivity-inattention) problems, together with the Brief Core Schema Scales (BCSS).

Results

The BCSS was readily completed by participants, and scale psychometric properties were good. Children tended to view themselves and others positively. Internalising and externalising problems and UEDs were all associated with negative schematic beliefs; effect sizes were small to medium.

Conclusions

Schematic beliefs in young people can be measured using the BCSS, and negative schematic beliefs are associated with childhood psychopathology and with UEDs. Schematic beliefs may therefore form a useful target in psychological interventions for young people with UEDs.

Keywords

PediatricsChild developmentSchizophrenia and psychosisAdolescent psychiatryPsychotherapyCognitive behaviour therapy

Information

Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 30 , Issue 5 , July 2015 , pp. 569 - 575
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2015

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