Dataset re the manuscript entitled "An Experience-Sampling Study on the Relevance of Affect Dynamics to Paranoid Ideation"

Dataset

Abstract of submitted manuscript:

Affective functioning is compromised in people who develop persecutory delusions, but the specifics of these affective disturbances remain unclear. To better understand the precise nature of affective disturbance in this group, it could prove helpful to focus not only on average or momentary affect intensities but also on the dynamic properties of affect, that is, the patterns and regularities with which affect fluctuates over time. This study used experience-sampling in a community sample with varying levels of paranoid ideation (n = 144) to capture different aspects of temporal affect dynamics in the two affective dimensions of valence and arousal. Specifically, we aimed to elucidate whether paranoid ideation is associated with high affective instability (i.e., both high affective variability and low inertia) or only with high affective variability or low affective inertia, and whether these effects would be maintained when mean affect levels are controlled for. Results showed that paranoid ideation was significantly associated with low inertia in affective valence, high variability in affective arousal, and also high average arousal levels. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice.

Please contact the first author via ulrike.nowak@uni-hamburg.de for further information.