Investigating key mechanisms mediating the relationship between social anxiety and paranoia: A 3-month follow-up cross-cultural survey conducted in Thailand and the United Kingdom

Because there is no evidence-based intervention for social anxiety in psychosis, and mechanisms of anxiety-paranoia continuum remain to be elucidated. We aimed investigate mediators between persecutory paranoia a prospective cross-cultural analogue sample using interventionist-causal models guide developments new treatments psychosis. This online survey included participants aged ≥18-year-old Thailand the UK. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T1) 3-month follow-up (T2) measuring anxiety, paranoia, depression (stigma; internal external shame; rank; self-esteem; safety behaviours). used mediation analysis with 10,000 bootstrapping bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals (CI) test indirect effects. At baseline, 842 survey, 336 Thai 369 UK agreed follow-up. Of these, 186 (70.4%female; mean age 34.9 ​± ​9.1) 236 (81.4%female; 35.7 ​12.7) A multiple model (controlling T1 T2 anxiety) showed significant effects change score (T2-T1) shame. These data suggest that shame may mediate relationship paranoia. Further research should focus on mechanistic approach finding