Conspiracy theory beliefs, which attribute significant events to the secret machinations of malevolent groups, have far-reaching social consequences. While research has shown a strong correlation between narcissism and conspiracy belief, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between vulnerable narcissism particularly and conspiracy belief remains understudied. This study explores the potential mediating effects of social motivations, specifically the need for uniqueness and the need for belonging. The hypothesis is that these motivations mediate the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and conspiracy beliefs. Participants (N = 371) residing in the United States of America completed measures of vulnerable narcissism (M = 32.8, SD = 8.8), need for uniqueness (M = 11.1, SD = 3.6), need for belonging (M = 30.6, SD = 6.2), and conspiracy beliefs (M = 3.0, SD = 1.0). A parallel mediation model revealed that vulnerable narcissism significantly predicted both need for uniqueness (β = .19, p <.001) and need for belonging (β = .45, p <.001). The need for uniqueness significantly predicted conspiracy beliefs (β = .35, p <.001), while the need for belonging did not (β = -.04, p = .49). The mediation analysis showed that the need for uniqueness mediated the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and conspiracy beliefs (indirect effect = .07, 95% CI [.03, .11]), while the need for belonging did not (indirect effect = -.02, 95% CI [-.071, .03]). These findings highlight the importance of addressing social motivations in mitigating conspiracy beliefs. Future research should explore other potential mediators and employ longitudinal designs to establish causality.

There is a growing popularity in the worldwide use of Schema Therapy (ST) to address a variety of complex and chronic psychological disorders (Young et al., 2003). Yet, the cultural suitability of ST has seldom been explored. This is concerning given that cultural responsiveness in mental health delivery is an ethical imperative in today’s increasingly globalised society. A recent exploratory study by Mao et al. (2022) was the first to explore clinicians' perspectives on the cultural acceptability of ST in Hong Kong and Singapore. Their findings suggest that while the core concepts of ST were acceptable, cultural adaptations were required to improve its acceptability with Asian clients. Further, preliminary research conducted by the presenter, in which qualitative interviews were held with ST clients and clinicians, suggests that adaptations are required to improve the cultural suitability of ST for some clients.

This presentation aims to explore and discuss the cultural suitability of Schema Therapy (ST) and raise awareness that ST is not a one-size-fits-all approach. This presentation will begin with a brief introduction to ST, covering its key components and therapeutic techniques. A review of the limited evidence base for the cultural suitability of ST will also be covered. Following this, the presentation will introduce Sorenson and Harrell’s (2021) four-domain cultural adaptation framework (CAM4), which can be used to explore potential cultural considerations for interventions. The four domains include: (i) Equivalence and development process, (ii) Content and context, (iii) Engagement, and (iv) Cultural competence. Specific examples and strategies within each domain will be discussed, illustrating how clinicians can adapt ST to better meet the needs of diverse clients.

With rising numbers of people with dementia, there is a growing need for cognitive screens to facilitate early detection and access to interventions that may improve and prolong lives.1-3 Sorting tests are rarely used to screen older adults for cognitive decline, despite being amongst the most sensitive tests for detecting dementia.4 The QuickSort is a free new cognitive screen that not only integrates the most effective components of existing sorting tests, but improves them for screening purposes. It involves 9-stimuli that are sorted by colour, shape, and number (scored 0-18: higher scores indicate better cognition). The QuickSort was designed to screen more older adults – including those with severe cognitive impairment, expressive language deficits or limited English proficiency – in less time than existing screens.5
The QuickSort is user-friendly, with good inter-rater and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlations of 1.0 and 0.8, respectively). Older (≥60 years) community-dwelling adults (n=187) and hospital inpatients who were referred for neuropsychological assessment (n=78) completed the QuickSort, Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). A cognitively-healthy subset (n=115) drawn from these samples completed the QuickSort in under two minutes, confirming its brevity. The QuickSort performance of older adults can be compared to this cognitively-healthy subsample (e.g., a score of 4 only occurs in 2% of cognitively-healthy older adults, indicating impairment). Scores can also be interpreted using likelihood ratios, with a score <2 increasing the likelihood of impairment on the MMSE and/or FAB by a factor of 9.26 (95% CI: 2.96–28.75), and a score ≥17 reducing it by a factor of 0.16 (95% CI: 0.06–0.41).5
Cognitive screens are also used in more complex clinical scenarios, such as detecting who is at risk of lacking the capacity to make independent and informed lifestyle decisions (LS-DMC). The QuickSort was better at differentiating between those who lacked (64%)/did not-lack (36%) LS-DMC than the MMSE, FAB and other clinical information in older inpatients who were referred to a clinical neuropsychology service for LS-DMC assessments (n=124). Specifically, QuickSort scores <2 and ≥13 increased and reduced the likelihood of lacking LS-DMC by factors of 65.26 (95% CI: 2.91–1463.90) and 0.32 (95% CI: 0.18–0.57), respectively.6
Overall, the QuickSort was developed to address the need for efficient cognitive screening in time and resource limited healthcare settings. It offers a brief, reliable and free alternative to lengthier screens, effectively detecting cognitive impairment in older adults and aiding in lifestyle decision-making evaluations.