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Schema therapy was developed by Jeffery Young to treat adults with personality disorders, and has been evidenced to be effective in treating both Axis I and Axis II disorders. While Young stipulates that schemas are likely to be in place by adolescence, there is currently little agreement over the appropriateness of schema theory and therapy in understanding and treating psychopathology in adolescence. This thesis aims to explore the evidence–base and potential utility of applying schema theory to adolescent psychopathology, and consists of a systematic review and research article. The review included published studies measuring Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) in 12 to 18 year olds, including those exploring relationships between EMS and psychopathology. The search of relevant literature from 1990 to 2012 yielded 19 articles for review, which were then subject to assessment of methodological quality. Most studies were assessed as ‘moderate’ in quality. Good quality evidence was found for the detection of higher rates of EMS in clinical or referred adolescent populations compared to non–clinical populations, as well as some evidence for effects of age and gender on EMS. Less consistent evidence was found for specific associations between individual EMS or domains and particular types of psychopathology or problem behaviour. Common limitations of the articles reviewed included poor control of confounding variables and little testing of EMS alongside contextual constructs to provide validation of findings. The main research article used a quantitative, questionnaire–based cross– sectional design to test the dimensionality of the schema concept in a population of 12 to 18 year–olds, comparing levels of EMS between a referred and non–referred group. EMS were measured alongside attachment and interpersonal behaviours to test their unique predictive effect on psychopathology. Specific relationships between individual groups of EMS and type of psychopathology were also explored. Results showed that the referred group scored significantly higher than the non–referred group on overall schema score. Schemas were found to significantly predict level of psychopathology, over and above prediction by attachment or interpersonal behaviour scores. There was also evidence for the specific prediction of internalising and externalising problem behaviour, affective, anxiety, oppositional–defiant and conduct problems by clusters of EMS. In conclusion, EMS appear to be a valid concept in predicting and understanding psychopathology in adolescence. A conceptual model is suggested for future research to explore the adaptation of schema theory more fully within developmental psychopathology. It is hoped that future research will test other aspects of schema theory in adolescents such as coping styles and modes. It is proposed that, following further validating evidence, this may result in the development of improved interventions for a range of presenting problems in adolescence.

The first study examined the role of perceived adverse parenting and early maladaptive schemas in the development of PTSD in Australian and New Zealand Vietnam war-veterans (N = 220). Veterans diagnosed with PTSD scored higher on the Young Schema Questionnaire and had higher scores on the Measure of Parental Style (MOPS) than veterans not diagnosed with PTSD. Only three childhood negative events were associated with PTSD: witnessing domestic violence; mother unemployed; and living with a stepfather. These variables may relate to research on negative family environment being associated with PTSD, whereas schemas may relate to parenting. The finding of strong relationships between negative life events data and adverse parenting endorses the MOPS as a valid instrument. Admission to hospital in Vietnam was the only war variable related to PTSD. Schemas mediated the negative parenting - PTSD link, and the Vietnam War experience - PTSD link. The results suggest that early maladaptive schemas have an important role in the development or maintenance of PTSD in Vietnam veterans. The second study measured at baseline, termination and three months the early maladaptive schemas, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and relationships of war-veterans (n = 54) participating in a PTSD group treatment program that included schema-focused therapy. Scores on the PTSD Check List, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and 17 schemas decreased significantly after treatment. The Abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Assessment of Quality of Life scores indicated that the veterans’ current relationships improved. Partners of veterans also experienced enhanced relationships. All gains were maintained at three-month follow-up. The five schema domains were associated with an improvement in PTSD symptoms, with gains on the impaired autonomy domain being associated with 26.3% of the changes in PTSD. Change scores for the schema treatment were compared to a similar earlier manualised CBT program. Pre-treatment measures were similar in both groups. Nevertheless, PTSD and anxiety improved significantly more for the schema-focused therapy group. Although the second study was not a randomised control comparison, both studies support the feasibility of schema-focused therapy to assist veterans with PTSD.

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Childhood sexual assault (CSA) refers to a sexual act that is imposed on a child or adolescent who lacks the emotional capacity, maturity, and cognitive development to understand what they are engaging in, and is incapable or unwilling to give consent. Many individuals who experience CSA also experience adult sexual assault, such as rape. To date, there is limited research that has examined early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and CSA, and no research that examines the relationship between CSA, EMS, and revictimization. The present study examined EMS as mediators of revictimization and mental health outcomes (i.e., depression and PTSD) among 263 college women who experienced CSA. Participants completed the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES-LFV; Koss et al., 2007) which assesses victimization and perpetration of unwanted sexual experiences, the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-SF: Young, 1998) to measure early maladaptive schemas, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist 5, a brief self-report instrument consisting of 20 items that reflect the symptoms of PTSD outlined in DSM-5, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-R; Radloff, 1977) is a brief self-report instrument used to measure symptoms of depression. As hypothesized, CSA was positively correlated with revictimization. CSA was correlated with EMS, specifically, emotional deprivation, mistrust/abuse, social isolation, defectiveness/shame, and self-sacrifice, but not abandonment. Surprisingly, EMS did not mediate the relationship between CSA and revictimization. EMS mediated the relationship between CSA and mental health outcomes, such as, depression and PTSD. EMS social isolation mediated the relationship between CSA and depression symptoms and EMS mistrust/abuse, social isolation, and self-sacrifice mediates the relationship between CSA and PTSD. In conclusion, our findings could be used to further investigate what appropriate early childhood interventions could possibly be used to address and treat early maladaptive schemas.

This study aimed to reveal the effect of cinematherapy on perfectionism and related Early Maladaptive Schemas and investigates the contribution of participants&rsquo / identification with the film and recall of the film on this process. 34 university students from Psychology Department at Middle East Technical University participated in the study. The participants completed a demographic information form, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, three Early Maladaptive Schema (Emotional Inhibition, Unrelenting Standards-Hypercriticalness, Approval Seeking-Recognition Seeking) items from Young Schema Questionnaire, Film &Ouml / zdeSleSme &Ouml / l&ccedil / egi (an identification scale developed for this study), and Film Recall Test (specific for the selected film) at pre-, post-, and a 10 days follow-up. There were two groups in this study, the first group only watched the selected film and completed assessment devices. The second group watched the selected film and then got a briefing about perfectionism. ANOVAs were conducted to assess differences on perfectionism and related schemas at different time intervals and between groups. According to results, watching the selected film had an effect on participant&rsquo / s perfectionism. Moreover, cinematherapy had no effect on perfectionism related schemas when they were analyzed together. However, it was found that watching the selected film had a temporary effect on Emotional Inhibition schema. A regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between identification, recall of the film and perfectionism. According to regression analysis, identification with the film and recall of the film had no association with the participants&rsquo / perfectionism. The findings, and their implications with suggestions for future research and practice, were discussed in the light of relevant literature.

The aim of the study is to investigate the relation between attachment style, early maladaptive schemas and attitude towards help seeking. Participants of this study were composed from 572 university students (264 female, 308 male). Participants were selected by convenient sampling method. The data was obtained by using the scale of Attitudes toward Seeking Psychological Help - Shortened (T&uuml / rk&uuml / m, 2001), Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew &amp / Horowitz, 1991), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (Young &amp / Brown,2006) and a demographic information form. One-way analysis of variance used to analyze the data. The findings of the study indicated students with secure attachment style was found to have more positive attitude towards psychological help seeking than preoccupied, dismissive and fearful attachment styles. As for early maladaptive schemas, the students who have Social Isolation/Alienation schema, Emotional Inhibition schema, Entitlement / Grandiosity schema and Defectiveness / Shame schema show more positive help seeking attitude than students who don&rsquo / t have. In addition, female students were found to have more positive help seeking attitude than male students.

Harsh and punitive parenting styles have been historically associated with the development of eating pathology. More recently, early maladaptive schemas and experiential avoidance have also been implicated in disordered eating. Maladaptive schemas are cognitive scripts that are theorized to be learned within maladaptive environments and repeated throughout an individual’s life. Experiential avoidance involves a tendency to avoid negative emotional experiences through maladaptive strategies. Both maladaptive schemas and experiential avoidance have been implicated in the development of many psychological issues, including eating pathology. The current study attempts to bridge these bodies of literature to develop a model in which cognitive and emotional processes relate to perceived maladaptive parenting styles and the development of eating pathology. Two studies are presented within the current dissertation. The first is a survey based quantitative study that assesses the influence of perceived authoritarian parenting style on the development of binge and restrictive eating pathology. This study examines the mediating role of maladaptive schemas and the moderating role of experiential avoidance. Results of the study demonstrate that specific maladaptive schemas (i.e., mistrust/abuse, emotional deprivation, and defectiveness/shame) mediate the relation between perceived authoritarian parenting and restrictive eating, particularly for those participants with higher levels of experiential avoidance. A different set of maladaptive schemas (i.e., defectiveness/shame, subjugation, and insufficient self-control/self-discipline) was found to significantly mediate the relation between perceived authoritarian parenting and binge eating pathology. Within this model however, low levels of experiential avoidance did not mitigate the effects of maladaptive schemas on the development of binge eating. Using a thematically driven exploratory qualitative analysis in the second study, similar themes were observed in a series of interviews, highlighting the influence of parenting style, participant characteristics, and specific food/weight related issues in the development of disordered eating. New and interesting themes not addressed within Study 1 emerged, providing insight relevant to future clinical and theoretical work. The results of both studies emphasize the role of particular cognitive and emotional factors in the development of different forms of eating pathology. Implications for theory and clinical practice are discussed.

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