Booij SH, et al. – Using data from an intensive sampling study, the aim of this investigation was to explore whether affective reactivity to daily stress is related to positive psychotic symptoms, independently of depressive symptoms, and vice versa. Researchers reported that increased affect reactivity anticipates depressive symptoms, but not positive psychotic symptoms. Affective reactivity might still facilitate the development of psychotic symptomatology via its effect on depressive symptoms.

Methods

• For the purpose of this investigation, the researchers utilized information from an intensive sampling study in the general population (n = 411), with 3 measurements a day (t = 90).
• Appraisal of activities, appraisal of social interactions, and experienced physical discomfort were the subjective stressors evaluated.
• Affective reactivity was conceptualized as both the positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) response to these stressors.
• By means of mixed model analyses, it was inspected whether affective reactivity was independently related to depressive and/or positive psychotic symptoms.

Results

• The results of this study showed that the PA response to activities and NA response to social interactions were negatively and positively associated with depressive symptoms, respectively, independent of psychotic symptoms.
• Conversely, no (in)dependent affiliation was observed between positive psychotic symptoms and affective reactivity to any of the daily life stressors.
• These discoveries were affirmed in a subsample with increased symptoms.