Korean J Schizophr Res.  2013 Oct;16(2):86-92. 10.16946/kjsr.2013.16.2.86.

Relations of Self-Esteem with Paranoia in Healthy Controls, Individuals at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis and with Recent Onset Schizophrenia

• Yoon HW
• Song YY
• Kang JI
• An SK

• KMID: 2288328
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2013.16.2.86

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Some emotional components, such as self-esteem, depression and anxiety, have been reported to be associated with paranoia in non-clinical population and schizophrenia patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between self-esteem and paranoia in healthy controls, in ultra-high risk for psychosis and schizophrenia patients.
METHODS
34 subjects with recent onset schizophrenia, 36 subjects with ultra-high risk for psychosis, and 44 healthy volunteers participated in this study. A detailed assessment was made of the paranoia, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.
RESULTS
In all three groups, there were a negative correlation between paranoia and self-esteem, and positive correlations between paranoia and depression and anxiety. In healthy control, lower self-esteem showed a trend to predict higher paranoia, and in ultra-high risk for psychosis, this trend tern on statistically significant level, and in recent onset schizophrenia group, this correlation was disappeared.
CONCLUSION
The individual who have lower self-esteem showed higher paranoia tendency under delusional level, but after formation of persecutory delusion, the tendency was disappeared. This result supports the hypothesis that persecutory delusions are a defense against negative affective process.

Keyword

Paranoia; Self-esteem; Depression; Anxiety

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anxiety
Charadriiformes
Delusions
Depression
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Paranoid Disorders*
Psychotic Disorders*
Schizophrenia*

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