Prodromal social anxiety in early-onset psychosis.

Traditionally, the prodromal phase has been considered an intrinsic part of an inevitable descent into acute psychosis, relevant only for its ‘warning’ status. Recent psychological models have challenged this, suggesting that it may be part of a psychopathological process that could be explored and intervened upon. However, little has been documented about the nature of this process. A qualitative approach, using constructivist grounded theory, would yield dense, high quality information about the subjective meaning of psychosis.

This study has three aims:
1. To review the validity of the prodrome as a clinical and theoretical concept
2. To explore how young people make meaning of the anxiety-based interpersonal problems that form a key part of the prodromal phase.
3. To discover from this data a central theory for the social and emotional processes involved in the onset of psychotic experience.

The methodology involves sequential non-clinical interviews of 8-10 participants aged between 16 and 21 who have experienced a first-episode of psychosis. The interviews will be conducted and analysed using grounded theory principles.