Volatility in Paranoia (VIP) Trial: An RCT of Changes in Volatility With Psychotherapy
Testing the Role of Belief Updating in Persecutory Delusions
About This Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether learning and belief updating change in response to the treatment of persecutory delusions, in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The main questions are: 1. do prior expectations about environmental volatility reduce following effective psychotherapeutic treatment of delusions? 2. does corresponding brain activity related to volatility change with effective treatment of delusions? Participants will: 1. engage in CBTp or TAU + phone check-ins for 16 weeks 2. complete assessments at 4 timepoints over the course of 6 months 3. complete an MRI when possible
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
Original Eligibility Criteria
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Treatments Being Tested
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Individuals will be assessed for which psychological factors are maintaining paranoia in their daily lives. They will collaboratively identify one maintenance factor to focus on (e.g. worry, anomalous experience, self-confidence, PTSD) for 8 weeks of individual therapy. Then, all participants will transition to 8 weeks of individual therapy focused on dropping safety behaviors and re-engaging in everyday life.
TAU
Individuals will continue treatment as usual (TAU). In addition they will have contact with a study therapist weekly via phone to provide information on what treatment they received. Phone check-ins will last approximately 5-10 minutes.