Doctorate in Clinical Psychology : Main Research Portfolio

: 1) What is known about the impact of Tourette’s syndrome on socio-emotional development across the lifespan?; 2) An evaluation of a tailored training program on the early-detection of ultrahigh risk for a first episode of psychosis, provided by the Bath and North East Somerset Early Intervention in Psychosis Service; 3) How are fear of illness recurrence, maladaptive coping behaviours and psychological distress affected by mental defeat and mental health anxiety in people recovering from psychosis?

Abstract

Purpose. Research investigating fear of illness recurrence and mental
health anxiety in psychosis is lacking. This study investigated the extent and
correlates of FIR and mental health anxiety, differentiating psychosis from mental health problems without psychosis.
Method. A cross-sectional design was employed. Thirty-nine participants in
recovery from psychosis, eighty-two in recovery from other mental health
difficulties and sixty-one healthy controls aged 18-73, were recruited from NHS
services and via social media. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure
mental defeat, mental health anxiety (MHA), fear of illness recurrence (FIR),
maladaptive coping behaviours and psychological distress.
Results. It was hypothesised that psychosis would be more negatively
evaluated in terms of its likely consequences than non-psychotic mental health
problems, leading to greater FIR; this was indeed the case, although levels of FIR
in non-psychotic mental health problems were rather high. Interestingly, there
were no other differences between these groups (in terms of mental defeat,
anxiety, depression, social functioning, and maladaptive coping behaviours). The
hypothesised relationship between FIR and MHA was also found, and maladaptive
coping behaviours were associated with FIR and MHA, again as hypothesised.
Mental defeat was associated with FIR and psychological distress (anxiety and
depression).
Conclusions. This study found that overall, people defining themselves as
in recovery are worried about the recurrence of their mental health problems and
the extent of this is linked to mental health anxiety. Clinical and research
implications are discussed.

Date of Award	15 Sept 2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Emma Griffith (Supervisor), Paul Salkovskis (Supervisor) & Hannah Steer (Supervisor)