Is persecution deserved? A study on a non-clinical Italian sample using Persecution and Deservedness Scale (PaDS)

D. Serrone ¹, P. Stratta ², I. Riccardi ³, S. Parnanzone ¹, F. Logozzo ¹, F. Pacitti ^1-3, A. Rossi ^1-3

¹Psychiatry Unit, San Salvatore Hospital, L’Aquila, Italy; ² Department of Mental Health, L’Aquila, Italy; ³ DISCAB, Department of Clinical and Applied Sciences and Biotechnology University of L’Aquila, Italy

Objectives

To achieve a validation of the Persecution and Deservedness Scale (PaDS) in an Italian convenience sample from general population. To catch the link between paranoia, self-esteem, depressive symptoms and aberrant salience assuming that these constructs could be related to paranoia.

Methods

312 individuals provided complete data on Persecution and Deservedness Scale, The Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen, The Aberrant Salience Inventory, The Self-Esteem Rating Scale.

Construct and Concurrent validity were assessed.

Results

PaDS subscales were internally reliable and showed correlations with the psychological measures.

Conclusions

PaDS is able to measure both severity of persecution and the correlated sense of deservedness. People from general population, experience sub–clinical persecution more probably in relation to some affects of sadness.

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