Guided Visual Imagery for Paranoia
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
Paranoia is a pattern of thinking in which people feel suspicious or believe others may want to harm them. It can occur in many people, not only those with a mental health diagnosis, and it can affect daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Research has consistently shown that Black Americans report higher levels of paranoia than White Americans, even when they do not have a clinical diagnosis. However, the reasons for this difference are not well understood.
The goal of this study is to better understand why these differences exist. In the experimental part of the study, researchers will use a randomized design to test whether exposure to stressful experiences related to race leads to higher levels of paranoia among Black American participants. The study will also examine factors that may strengthen or weaken this effect, such as individual experiences and personal characteristics.
By identifying how stressful experiences related to race influence paranoia, this research aims to improve how paranoia is measured and understood across different groups. These findings may help researchers and clinicians use more accurate and culturally appropriate tools to assess psychosis-related experiences in diverse populations.
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Experimental Task
Participants engage in a guided visual imagery task to test the impact of race-related adverse experiences on paranoia
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in paranoia and affective responses immediately after the experimental task
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Guided Visual Imagery Task
How Is the Trial Designed?
4
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Participants are exposed to an audio-guided imagery scenario depicting a subtle race-related adverse experience, such as ambiguous or indirect racial bias. The guided imagery task instructs participants to imagine a situation involving covert or nuanced race-related social threat, consistent with commonly reported microaggressive experiences.
Participants listen to an audio-guided imagery scenario depicting social exclusion (e.g., being left out or rejected in a social context) without reference to race and are instructed to vividly imagine the situation. This condition isolates the effect of social threat/exclusion from race-specific content.
Participants are exposed to an audio-guided imagery scenario depicting a blatant race-related adverse experience. The guided imagery task instructs participants to vividly imagine a situation involving explicit racial hostility or discrimination. This intervention is designed to experimentally prime exposure to overt race-related social threat in a controlled setting.
Participants are exposed to an audio-guided imagery scenario depicting a neutral, non-threatening experience unrelated to race or social evaluation. This condition serves as a control for engagement with the guided imagery task without exposure to race-related adverse content.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Indiana University
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborator
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