Can Online Tests Predict Psychosis Risks?

Psychosis is a serious mental health issue. It can affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is often linked to problems with perception, reasoning, and social skills. These issues can show up in various ways, even before a person is diagnosed with psychosis. This makes early detection crucial. A recent study looked into whether a short online test could help predict who might be at risk. The test checked visual perception, reasoning, social skills, and emotional control. It was given to 157 adults in the community. Alongside, participants filled out surveys about their own experiences with psychosis-like symptoms. The test was easy to complete, with high participation rates. However, the reliability of the online measures was not perfect. This means the results might not be as consistent as hoped. Despite this, the study found that self-reported visual perception and emotional control issues could predict psychotic-like experiences. These factors explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms, even after accounting for age. The study suggests that online tests have potential. They could help researchers study both thinking and emotional aspects of psychosis. However, there are challenges. Technological issues and the need for reliable online measures must be addressed. Future tests should be more robust to ensure accurate results. The findings are promising but not conclusive. More research is needed to refine these online assessments. They could become a valuable tool in understanding and predicting psychosis risks. However, caution is advised. The methods used must be carefully chosen and validated.