Freeman et al (2003)- context and main theories

Question 1

What is persecutory ideation?

Answer 1

• A type of delusion
• In which an individual belives they’re being
• harrassed, threatened, conspired against or harmed
• Despite a lack of evidence to support this beliefs.

Most common positive symptom

Question 2

What can persecutory ideation lead to?

Answer 2

1. Social withdrawal
2. Inability to maintain usual activities (due to fear of hostility)

Question 3

Virtual reality became a very new technology to be used in psychology in the 90s and early 2000’s. In what different ways was it used?

Answer 3

1. Investigating spatial awareness + cognitive skills.
2. Succesfully treating individuals suffering from a range of phobias like animals, situtaions etc. (Rothaum et al, 2000)
3. Diagnosing mental disorders

Question 4

Why is diagnosing schizophrenia difficult?

Answer 4

• It requires an understanding how an individual interpret social interactions.
• However, schizophrenics can interpret these interactions in a disorted manner (leading to paranoia)
• Making it harder for DRs to understand what they’re experiencing.

Question 5

Why is using VR helpul in diagnosing schizophrenia?

Answer 5

1. Allows clinicians to observe patient interactions/reactions in a simulated controlled social setting (which can help identify specfic symptoms like paranoia)
2. Expose patients to stimuli that may trigger symptoms (hallucinations) in a controlled way.
3. Evaluate cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia.

controlled + standardised = minimisied inaccuracies associated with face to face daignosis.

Question 6

VR has been used to succesfully treat individuals suffering from a range of phobias like specific animals, situations etc.

Answer 6

(Rothaum et al, 2000)

Rotham/ Rothaum