Predictors and consequences of psychotic-like experiences in emerging adults

Objectives: Ample evidence has suggested the continuum of psychosis, which encompasses a wide range of psychotic symptom expressions, from clinically significant psychotic symptoms observed in patients to psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in the general population. To fill in the research gap of limited studies, the current study investigated the predictors and consequences of PLEs in a sample of university students. Methods: 159 university students (67.9% female), aged 17-25, from Hong Kong participated in the study and completed online questionnaires: the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences questionnaire (Capra et al, 2013); a Mind in the Eyes Test w (Baron-Cohen et al., 1997); a Cognitive biases Questionnaire for Psychosis (Peters et al., 2010); a Gricean Maxims Test (Grice, 1975) and a Social Functioning Questionnaire (Newton-Howes et al., 2008). Results: Results have shown that theory of mind (ToM) ability was negatively associated with positive dimension of PLEs and the relationship was mediated by specific cognitive biases. Conclusions: Findings suggest that higher level of ToM capacities was correlated with less positive PLEs. Catastrophizing, a specific subtype of cognitive biases, fully mediated the relation between ToM and positive PLEs. Partial mediating impact of intentionalising was also identified. The current study provides further evidence supporting the practice of targeting ToM and cognitive biases in the intervention and treatment for early psychosis, so as to prevent vulnerable individuals from developing into a full-blown psychosis. All rights reserved.