The influence of mood and social relationships on the intensity of Basic Self Disturbances: An Experience Sampling Method investigation

Lise Baklund ^1* Jan Ivar Røssberg ² Sigurd Melbye ¹ Henri Pesonen ² Paul Møller ¹

• ¹ Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway
• ² University of Oslo, Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Background: Basic self-disturbance (BSD), the overarching concept of various experiences of selfalienation referred to as anomalous self-experiences (ASEs), is considered a relatively stable clinical marker for potential schizophrenia spectrum disorder development. However, research on BSD in children and adolescents in pre-psychotic phases is limited. Research on individuals at risk for psychosis shows that psychosocial factors are critical in psychosis-development, but studies of these factors and whether the relationship between psychosocial factors and the severity of ASEs is lacking.The present study aims to investigate the extent mood, social relationships, and psychosocial factors contribute to the development of BSD in adolescents at risk for psychosis.Methods: We used the Experience Sampling Method to collect real-time data from 27 help-seeking 12-to 19-year-old adolescents. Data from daily registrations on a smartphone app, measuring the intensity of BSD, mood and social settings over various time periods (hour-by-hour, daily, and weekly over 6 months) were analyzed by linear mixed regression modelling.Results: Negative emotions were positively associated with the means of ASE scores (β = 0.30, 95% CI = (0.26, 0.34), whereas for the positive emotions the contrast of the association was significantly negative (β = -0.57, 95%-CI = (-0.63, -0.51). The effect of being alone at the time of the response the intensity of ASEs compared to being with others was significantly positive (β = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.08 -0.46). However, this effect was observed only when not being at home, as indicated by the effect of being at home (β = -0.04, 95%-CI = (-0.09, 0.11) compared to not being at home and the interaction between the two social context variables (β = -0.20, 95%-CI = (-0.44, -0.04).Conclusions: Mood and social settings seem to be influencing factors on the expression and intensity of ASEs. These factors should be addressed in the clinical approach to BSD, and further studies investigating the influence of various psychosocial factors on BSD experiences should be conducted.