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Instability in self-esteem and paranoia in a general population sample

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Abstract

Background

Research on the association between paranoia and self-esteem has yielded inconsistent findings. Some studies have indicated an association between paranoia and low self-esteem, while other studies have shown an association with high self-esteem. A plausible explanation for these inconsistencies is that self-esteem is unstable in paranoid individuals.

Method

The association between instability in self-esteem and paranoia was assessed in a general population risk set of 4636 individuals using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Self-esteem instability was significantly associated with the presence of paranoid symptoms (OR 1.27 95% CI 1.12–1.45) and not with other positive psychotic symptoms (OR 1.09 95% CI 0.96–1.23), adjusted for a range of a priori selected confounders.

Conclusion

The finding of a specific association between unstable self-esteem and paranoia is in line with a recent psychological model suggesting that paranoid beliefs arise partly as a consequence of dysfunctional efforts to regulate self-esteem.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616 (DRT 10), 6200, MD, Mastricht, The Netherlands

    Viviane Thewissen, Inez Myin-Germeys &  Jim van Os

  2. Section Social Cognition, Mondriaan Zorggroep, Heerlen, The Netherlands

    Viviane Thewissen, Inez Myin-Germeys &  Jim van Os

  3. School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Richard Bentall

  4. The Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Ron de Graaf & Wilma Vollebergh

  5. Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

    Jim van Os

Authors
  1. Viviane Thewissen
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  2. Inez Myin-Germeys
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  3. Richard Bentall
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  4. Ron de Graaf
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  5. Wilma Vollebergh
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  6. Jim van Os
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jim van Os.

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Thewissen, V., Myin-Germeys, I., Bentall, R. et al. Instability in self-esteem and paranoia in a general population sample. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 42, 1–5 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0136-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0136-1

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