Childhood interpersonal trauma and paranoia in psychosis: The role of disorganised attachment and negative schema

Paranoia is associated with significant distress and is associated with childhood trauma. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for this association is important for informing psychological interventions. Theoretical proposals suggest that negative schema and insecure attachment may be important mechanisms in the development of paranoia. Disorganised attachment may be particularly relevant. The current study is the first to examine whether the relationship between childhood interpersonal trauma and paranoia is mediated by disorganised attachment, and the impact of disorganised attachment on negative self and negative other schema.