Measuring common responses to psychosis: Assessing the psychometric properties of a new measure

Responses to psychotic experiences are central to cognitive models of psychosis. The current study aimed to develop and validate a self-report measure of common responses to the experience of psychosis. This measure is needed as cognitive and behavioural responses are implicated in the maintenance of psychosis, but there is currently no measure that comprehensively assesses these maintaining factors. The Measure of Common Responses to psychosis (MCR) was developed and utilised in a sample of 487 participants who met criteria for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Principal components analysis using data from 287 participants reduced the initial item pool of 31 items to 15 items with a three component structure. The components represented social control and reassurance seeking, threat monitoring and avoidance and conscious self-regulation attempts. Confirmatory factor analysis using data from the remaining 200 participants generally supported this three factor structure. The three subscales were found to have good internal consistency and convergent validity. The MCR, therefore, appears to be a useful tool to identify and monitor response styles, and could be utilised in further research to increase our understanding of the complex relationships between responses, symptoms and distress. It can also be used in clinical practice to elicit information that will be helpful in the psychological formulation and treatment of psychosis.