Example psychotherapy dissertation topic 8:

Threat anticipation triggers in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis.

The ability to predict psychotic episodes in schizophrenia would considerably aid the management of the condition. This dissertation undertakes a meta-analysis of the published literature on threat anticipation triggers, with a particular focus on persecutory delusions. It explores the models of such delusions currently in use and evaluates their overall effectiveness. This is a dissertation that would suit the student more inclined to wide-ranging secondary research and who may not, for example, have access to a clinical setting in which to conduct primary research.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Bentall, R.P. (1994). ‘Cognitive biases and abnormal beliefs: Towards a model of persecutory delusions’. In, David, A.S. and Cutting, J. (eds), The neuropsychology of schizophrenia. London: Erlbaum, pp. 337-360.
• Harrington, L., Langdon, R., Siegert, R.J. and McClure, J. (2005). ‘Schizophrenia, theory of mind, and persecutory delusions’. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, vol. 10, pp. 87-104.
• Salvatore, G., Lysaker, P.H., Popolo, R., Procacci, M., Carcione, A. and Dimaggio, G. (2012). ‘Vulnerable self, poor understanding of others’ minds, threat anticipation and cognitive biases as triggers for delusional experience in schizophrenia: A theoretical model’. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, vol. 19, pp. 247-259.