The dynamics of social activation and suspiciousness in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Laura A Steenhuis; Tim Harms; Maaike H Nauta; Agna A Bartels-Velthuis; Casper J Albers; André Aleman; Maarten Vos; Gerdina H M Pijnenborg; David van den Berg; Eline C Palstra; Johanna T W Wigman; Sanne H Booij

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.012

The dynamics of social activation and suspiciousness in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Schizophr Res. 2023 Dec:262:67-75. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.012. Epub 2023 Nov 4.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; GGZ Drenthe, Department of Psychotic Disorders, Dennenweg 9, 9404 LA Assen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: l.a.steenhuis@rug.nl.
² University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands.
³ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁴ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Psychometrics & Statistics, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁵ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁶ University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, the Netherlands; GGZ Drenthe, Department of Psychotic Disorders, Dennenweg 9, 9404 LA Assen, the Netherlands.
⁷ VU University and Amsterdam Public Health Research, Department of Clinical Psychology, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychosis Research, Zoutkeetsingel 40, 2512 HN The Hague, the Netherlands.
⁸ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center for Psychiatry, Rob Giel Research Center, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neuroscience, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neuroscience, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands.

PMID: 37925753
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.012

Abstract

Introduction: Social functioning is often impaired during the ultra-high risk (UHR) phase for psychosis, but group-level studies regarding the role of social functioning in transition to psychosis are inconsistent. Exploring the inter-individual differences which underlie the association between social functioning and psychotic symptoms in this phase could yield new insights.

Objective: To examine the idiographic and dynamic association between social activation and suspiciousness in individuals at UHR for psychosis using time-series analysis.

Methods: Twenty individuals at UHR for psychosis completed a diary application every evening for 90 days. Two items on social activation (quantity: 'time spent alone' and quality: 'feeling supported') and two items on suspiciousness ('feeling suspicious' and 'feeling disliked') were used. Time series (T = 90) of each individual were analyzed using vector auto regression analysis (VAR), to estimate the lagged (over 1 day) effect of social activation on suspiciousness, and vice versa, as well as their contemporaneous associations.

Results: Heterogeneous person-specific associations between social activation and suspiciousness were found in terms of strength, direction and temporal aspects.

Conclusions: The association between social activation and suspiciousness differs amongst individuals who are at UHR for psychosis. These findings underline the importance of tailoring psychosocial interventions to the individual. Future studies may examine whether using results of single-subject studies in clinical practice to personalize treatment goals leads to better treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Psychopathology; Psychosis; Risk factors; Social support; Suspiciousness.

MeSH terms

Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Psychotic Disorders* / psychology
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Social Adjustment