The applicant's long-term goal is a successful academic career in clinical psychology. This training grant will enable the applicant to develop a program of research focusing on translational research applying basic social-cognitive techniques to research on schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Previous research suggests that anomalous experiences (e.g., unusual perceptual experiences) and defensive self-processing (e.g., low self-concept clarity) may be related to delusions in schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms that underlie anomalous experiences have been largely unexplored. One possible mechanism is aberrant salience (Kapur, 2003). Previous research suggests that anomalous experiences may not be sufficient to explain the development of delusions, and other social cognitive processes such as defensive self-processing may interact with anomalous experiences to produce delusions.
The specific aims of the current research are 1) to examine whether aberrant salience is associated with anomalous experiences and delusions, and 2) to examine whether the combination of aberrant salience and defensive self-processing is associated with distress, preoccupation, and conviction of delusions. In particular, the second specific aim is to examine whether participants with high aberrant salience and high defensive self-processing have high levels of delusions. The proposed research involves two studies. Study 1 will include people with schizophrenia, while study 2 will include people at risk for the development of schizophrenia. In both studies, we will test whether anomalous experiences mediate the relation between aberrant salience (measured with a novel cognitive task and questionnaire) and delusions. Second, we will test whether there is an interaction between aberrant salience and self-concept clarity, such that people with high aberrant salience and low self-concept clarity have high levels of delusions. Study 1 will allow for the assessment of these processes in a clinical population, while study 2 will address whether the effects of study 1 are related to antipsychotic medication use, which is a potential confound of almost all schizophrenia research. The current research has the potential to inform both prevention efforts and treatment for people with schizophrenia. Understanding the mechanisms of delusions may help identify people at risk for the development of schizophrenia, since delusion-like symptoms have been shown to predict future onset of schizophrenia and delusion-like symptoms may be among the first symptoms to appear in the prodromal phase of the illness. Moreover, understanding these mechanisms may impact both psychological and pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31MH086190-01A1
Application #
7804227
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F12B-S (20))
Program Officer
Rubio, Mercedes
Project Start
2009-09-29
Project End
2011-09-28
Budget Start
2009-09-29
Budget End
2010-09-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$29,838
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Missouri-Columbia
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
153890272
City
Columbia
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
65211
Cicero, David Colin; Martin, Elizabeth A; Becker, Theresa M et al. (2016) Decreased Self-Concept Clarity in People with Schizophrenia. J Nerv Ment Dis 204:142-7
Cicero, David C; Docherty, Anna R; Becker, Theresa M et al. (2015) Aberrant salience, self-concept clarity, and interview-rated psychotic-like experiences. J Pers Disord 29:79-99
Cicero, David C; Martin, Elizabeth A; Becker, Theresa M et al. (2014) Correspondence between psychometric and clinical high risk for psychosis in an undergraduate population. Psychol Assess 26:901-15
Cicero, David C; Martin, Elizabeth A; Becker, Theresa M et al. (2014) Reinforcement learning deficits in people with schizophrenia persist after extended trials. Psychiatry Res 220:760-4
Cicero, David C; Becker, Theresa M; Martin, Elizabeth A et al. (2013) The role of aberrant salience and self-concept clarity in psychotic-like experiences. Personal Disord 4:33-42
Cicero, David C; Kerns, John G (2011) Unpleasant and Pleasant Referential Thinking: Relations with Self- Processing, Paranoia, and Other Schizotypal Traits. J Res Pers 45:208-218