Nonverbal correlates of paranoid ideation – a systematic literature review

Abstract Background and Aim Insight in nonverbal correlates of paranoid ideation can potentially help improve diagnostic procedures and guide interventions. The aim was to systematically evaluate the scientific evidence investigating nonverbal correlates of paranoid ideation. Methods The review follows the PRISMA guidelines. Databases PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cinahl were searched for studies concerning the use of standardized instruments for both verbal and nonverbal measurements of paranoid ideation in adult participants. Quality of studies was evaluated using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool. Data were systematically extracted and summarized thematically and narratively. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022288001). Results The search strategy yielded 3962 results of which 22 papers met inclusion criteria. Half (n = 11) of the included articles included patients with a diagnosis on the psychosis spectrum, the other articles (n = 11) studied healthy populations. Identified nonverbal categories were spatial behavior (n = 6), brain region activity (n = 5), visual perception (n = 5), stress physiology (n = 4), information processing (n = 3), and aggression (n = 1). Some studies investigated multiple nonverbal categories. Conclusions Evidence was strongest for spatial behavior and brain region activity as nonverbal correlates of paranoid ideation. Evidence for stress physiology, information processing, and aggression as potential nonverbal correlates was less robust, due to inconsistent findings and small numbers of publications. Using nonverbal methods to assess paranoid ideation requires more investigation and evaluation. The integration of nonverbal assessments might offer new diagnostic possibilities that move beyond traditional verbal methods.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Psychological Medicine

• Publication date

  2025-06-04

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Psychology

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1017/S0033291725001230PMID 40462520PMCID 12180505
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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