Ongoing Studies

 Multiple cognitive and neurobiological factors have been suggested to contribute to psychotic experiences, yet their specific and shared involvement remains unclear. This study is investigating multiple proposed models of psychotic symptoms including Bayesian belief updating, decision-making, cognitive biases, and emotional awareness.

Persecutory delusions are present in more than 80% of persons during a first episode of psychosis. They can increase the risk of suicide, violence, and hospitalization, underscoring the need for effective treatments. This randomized clinical trial (RCT) examines how thinking and behavior are affected by targeted psychotherapy in order to guide future treatment development.

This study, funded by a K23 from the NIMH, identifies individuals experiencing an acute exacerbation of delusions and follows them over the course of 6 months. During that time, we will collect clinical, cognitive and neuroimaging markers of delusions, to help determine their role in delusion severity and maintenance, in order to inform treatment and prevention.