This thesis addresses the links between social support and isolation and symptoms of psychosis. Part One presents a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies investigating the association between social support at baseline and symptomatic recovery at a later time-point. It considers whether the type of social support measure, or the length of time between baseline and follow-up, impact on this association. A small, significant positive association was found between higher levels of social support and likelihood of symptomatic recovery. No impact of social support measure or time to follow-up was identified. Part Two reports on an empirical virtual reality study which examines associations of current social connectedness and attachment style with the experience of trust towards a friendly avatar, in eighteen males with clinical paranoia. Significant negative associations were found between level of social factors involving resource and integration, and objective trusting behaviour towards the avatar. Secure versus insecure attachment style was differentially related to level of objective trust. Associations were not found between social connectedness measures or attachment style and subjective trust of the avatar. The empirical study was a joint project completed with Gail Wingham (GW), a fellow University College London D. Clin. Psy. Trainee. The findings from this researcher’s thesis are presented separately. Part Three is a critical appraisal of the meta-analysis and empirical study. It considers recruitment of clinical populations for virtual reality research, discusses methods of effectively analysing the findings of small-n research, and reflects on the field of virtual reality and its potential implications for future research and clinical applications
