University of Southampton, UK.
Behav Cogn Psychother. 2013 Mar;41(2):188-209. doi: 10.1017/S1352465812000422. Epub 2012 Jun 13.
The cognitive models indicate that people with social phobia and paranoia share a common fear of others. While we recognize clinical differences, it is likely that some of the same psychological processes contribute to the maintenance of both presentations, yet the nature and extent of these similarities and differences are not yet clearly understood. This study explored threat experiences in people with social phobia and persecutory delusions in order to elucidate these aspects of the respective cognitive models.
Accounts of interpersonal threat experiences were examined in nine people with social phobia and nine people with persecutory delusions. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Three major themes emerged from the data: participants' experience of threat, reactions while under threat, and subsequent reflections. Narrative coherence emerged as a superordinate theme. Typical fear responses were found in both groups, particularly in their reactions to threat. The key differences were in participants' perceptual experiences, ability to stand back from the threat following the event, and narrative coherence.
The findings are discussed in relation to current cognitive models of social phobia and paranoia. Theoretical and clinical implications are drawn out, and highlight the need to examine attentional and metacognitive processes more closely if we are to understand the maintenance of perceived threat in these groups, and means of alleviating associated distress.
认知模型表明，社交恐惧症和偏执狂患者共有的共同恐惧是对他人的恐惧。虽然我们认识到临床差异，但某些相同的心理过程可能有助于维持这两种表现，然而，这些相似之处和不同之处的性质和程度尚不清楚。本研究探讨了社交恐惧症和被害妄想症患者的人际威胁体验，以阐明各自认知模型的这些方面。
研究人员检查了 9 名社交恐惧症患者和 9 名被害妄想症患者的人际威胁体验。使用主题分析对逐字记录进行了分析。
从数据中出现了三个主要主题：参与者的威胁体验、受到威胁时的反应以及随后的反思。叙述连贯性作为一个上位主题出现。两个组都发现了典型的恐惧反应，尤其是在对威胁的反应中。关键的区别在于参与者的感知体验、在事件发生后从威胁中退后一步的能力以及叙述连贯性。
研究结果与社交恐惧症和偏执狂的当前认知模型进行了讨论。得出了理论和临床意义，并强调需要更仔细地检查注意力和元认知过程，如果我们要理解这些群体中感知威胁的维持以及减轻相关痛苦的方法。
