Understanding how belief changes affect feelings of persecution
Official title: Testing the role of belief updating in persecutory delusions
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11132892 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with schizophrenia update their beliefs about others, especially when they feel like someone is out to get them, to find better ways to help reduce those scary feelings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $812,911 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH137024-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132892 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience persecutory delusions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those who do not experience persecutory delusions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the process of updating beliefs influences persecutory delusions, which are the intense feelings that others wish to harm an individual. By examining cognitive processes related to belief updating, the study aims to identify how these processes contribute to the maintenance of such delusions. The research will utilize advanced methodologies to assess how individuals with schizophrenia interpret changes in their environment and how this affects their beliefs. Ultimately, the goal is to develop new treatment approaches that can help alleviate these distressing symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for individuals experiencing persecutory delusions, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing evidence that cognitive processes related to belief updating play a significant role in delusions, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights and potential breakthroughs.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheffield, Julia May — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Sheffield, Julia May
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.