Interpersonal sensitivity and functioning impairment in youth at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Interpersonal sensitivity and persistent attenuated psychotic symptoms in adolescence

“…In line with our research hypothesis, we found that the sense of having an inner or core self that is unlikeable and needs to be hidden from others was associated to the presence of attenuated positive psychotic symptoms at follow-up. These findings confirm the results of previous studies conducted among UHR individuals (26)(27)(28). Moreover, it is important to underline the possible affinity between the notion of "fragile inner-self" and the phenomenological model of self-disturbance, defined by some authors as a core clinical feature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (41,42) and reported in young subjects at high risk for psychosis (43,44).…”

“…A previous cross-sectional research conducted among the baseline sample involved in the present study (27), found that UHR individuals showed high sensitivity to interpersonal interaction, high vigilance to others' behaviour in an attempt to gauge their response, as well as high level of anxiety about separation from significant others. On the basis of the latter (27) and other previous studies (24-26; 28-32), confirming the correlation between interpersonal sensitivity and attenuated psychotic symptoms, and according to the role of interpersonal sensitivity as one of the vulnerability factors to depression (22,23), we hypothesised that baseline level of interpersonal sensitivity would predict the longitudinal persistence of attenuated positive psychotic symptoms and general symptoms.…”

“…Individuals with this trait are preoccupied with interpersonal relationships, vigilant to the behaviour and mood of others, sensitive to perceived or actual criticism or rejection, and modified their behaviour to comply with others' expectations (21). Originally conceptualized as a set of symptoms occurring both as a consequence of depression and as a vulnerability for the development of depression (22,23), interpersonal sensitivity was also found to be related to attenuated positive psychotic symptom during the prodromal phase of psychosis (24)(25)(26)(27) and to paranoid ideation in general populations samples, UHR and individuals with psychosis (28)(29)(30)(31)(32). A previous cross-sectional research conducted among the baseline sample involved in the present study (27), found that UHR individuals showed high sensitivity to interpersonal interaction, high vigilance to others' behaviour in an attempt to gauge their response, as well as high level of anxiety about separation from significant others.…”

“…Originally conceptualized as a set of symptoms occurring both as a consequence of depression and as a vulnerability for the development of depression (22,23), interpersonal sensitivity was also found to be related to attenuated positive psychotic symptom during the prodromal phase of psychosis (24)(25)(26)(27) and to paranoid ideation in general populations samples, UHR and individuals with psychosis (28)(29)(30)(31)(32). A previous cross-sectional research conducted among the baseline sample involved in the present study (27), found that UHR individuals showed high sensitivity to interpersonal interaction, high vigilance to others' behaviour in an attempt to gauge their response, as well as high level of anxiety about separation from significant others. On the basis of the latter (27) and other previous studies (24-26; 28-32), confirming the correlation between interpersonal sensitivity and attenuated psychotic symptoms, and according to the role of interpersonal sensitivity as one of the vulnerability factors to depression (22,23), we hypothesised that baseline level of interpersonal sensitivity would predict the longitudinal persistence of attenuated positive psychotic symptoms and general symptoms.…”

Interpersonal sensitivity in those at clinical high risk for psychosis mediates the association between childhood bullying victimisation and paranoid ideation: A virtual reality study

“…Interpersonal sensitivity describes a personality trait characterised by "an undue and excessive awareness of, and sensitivity to, the behaviour and feelings of others… particularly to perceived or actual situations of criticism or rejection…" (p.342 (Boyce and Parker, 1989). Interpersonal sensitivity has been implicated in the formation of paranoid ideation (Bell and Freeman, 2014;Freeman et al, 2005); and it was found to be heightened in those at CHR for psychosis (Masillo et al, 2012;Masillo et al, 2016). The core characteristics of paranoid ideation are its interpersonal nature and unfoundedness (Freeman and Garety, 2004).…”