5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Elevated expectations of environmental volatility tracked greater delusion severity over 6 months in schizophrenia-spectrum disorder patients.

• 2

  The study followed 75 patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and 71 nonclinical participants over a 6-month period.

• 3

  Higher volatility priors were associated with greater clinician-rated delusion severity and remained elevated compared to nonclinical participants.

• 4

  Delusions and paranoia remained elevated at the end of follow-up, with volatility priors decreasing but still higher than in the comparison group.

• 5

  The findings suggest volatility priors may represent a cognitive mechanism related to delusions, but their state-trait nature remains unclear.