Relations of Self-Esteem with Paranoia in Healthy Controls, Individuals at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis and with Recent Onset Schizophrenia. |
Hui Woo Yoon, Yun Young Song, Jee In Kang, Suk Kyoon An |
1Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ansk@yuhs.ac 2Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. |
|
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. |
Key Words:
Paranoia · Self-esteem · Depression · Anxiety |
|