A latent profile analysis of schizotypal dimensions: Associations with psychopathology and personality

Abstract

The main goal of the present study was to explore the latent structure of schizotypal traits in non-clinical young adults, and compare the latent profiles in clinical and personality characteristics: mental distress, psychosis-proneness, hypomanic experiences, and anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. A large sample of college students (N =1002; mean age =21.11 years; SD =3.92) were administered the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief Revised, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the short version of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale. Using latent profile analysis, four latent classes (LC) were identified: “low schizotypy” (62.4%), “average schizotypy” (17.6%), “interpersonal schizotypy” (17.1%), and “high schizotypy” (2.9%). The “high schizotypy” class scored higher on most psychometric indicators of psychopathology and personality (i.e., mental distress, schizotypy, hypomanic experiences, and anticipatory and consummatory pleasure) relative to other three latent classes. The other three schizotypal latent profiles also varied in terms of these psychopathology and personality factors. The identification of homogeneous subgroups of individuals potentially at-risk for psychosis based on schizotypal latent profiles may improve early identification and prevention efforts aimed at reducing the burden associated with psychotic-spectrum disorders and mental health problems.