Assessment Of Schizotypy Research Articles

Психологические и молекулярно-генетические корреляты шизотипии в общей популяции

For a long time, schizotypy was regarded as a manifestation of a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia. However, accumulated data suggest a complex, heterogeneous genetic etio­logy of schizotypal traits. This study is intended to answer the question of whether psychometric schizotypy should be further applied to the study and prevention of schizophrenia and to help provide care for individuals with high schizotypal severity, as the latter is often coupled with various signs of maladaptation. To explore the etiology of schizotypy, in this study the authors assessed the relations between cognitive & perceptual, paranoid, interpersonal and disorganizational factors in schizotypy and personality (n = 1,115), motivational (n = 645), cognitive processes (n = 557) and polygenic risk scores (PRS) of schizophrenia and schizotypy-related psychological traits (n = 417). The researchers used regression and network analyses. The study demonstrated that the severity of schizotypal traits does not correlate with the genetic burden of schizophrenia, but to a certain extent is associated to the polygenic predisposition to neuroticism. The latter could apparently influence schizotypal traits both directly and through the response set. However, the anxiety traits themselves do not mediate the relation between polygenic scores of neuroticism and schizotypal traits. Together with the source data, findings of this study point to the need to improve schizotypy assessment tools by introducing validity scales, and to adopt a genetically determined tendency to high neuroticism as a source of schizotypy in the general population, which requires further in-depth investigation.

Tensor factorization approach for ERP-based assessment of schizotypy in a novel auditory oddball task on perceived family stress

Objective. Schizotypy, a potential phenotype for schizophrenia, is a personality trait that depicts psychosis-like signs in the normal range of psychosis continuum. Family communication may affect the social functioning of people with schizotypy. Greater family stress, such as irritability, criticism and less praise, is perceived at a higher level of schizotypy. This study aims to determine the differences between people with high and low levels of schizotypy using electroencephalography (EEG) during criticism, praise and neutral comments. EEGs were recorded from 29 participants in the general community who varied from low schizotypy to high schizotypy (HS) during a novel emotional auditory oddball task. Approach. We consider the difference in event-related potential parameters, namely the amplitude and latency of P300 subcomponents (P3a and P3b), between pairs of target words (standard, positive, negative and neutral). A model based on tensor factorization is then proposed to detect these components from the EEG using the CANDECOMP/PARAFAC decomposition technique. Finally, we employ the mutual information estimation method to select influential features for classification. Main results. The highest classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 93.1%, 94.73%, and 90% are obtained via leave-one-out cross validation. Significance. This is the first attempt to investigate the identification of individuals with psychometrically-defined HS from brain responses that are specifically associated with perceiving family stress and schizotypy. By measuring these brain responses to social stress, we achieve the goal of improving the accuracy in detection of early episodes of psychosis.

Nutrition, Sleep, and Exercise as Healthy Behaviors in Schizotypy: A Scoping Review.

We systematically reviewed the existing literature on these topics through databases including: PsycINFO, Scopus, APA PsycNet, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and SpringerLink. Of the 59 studies found, a total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria on the review topic. Included studies reflect varying study designs (cross-sectional, multiple time-point, intervention, randomized-placebo controlled trials), assessment of schizotypy and associated healthy behaviors, focus on various samples and lifespan (e.g., undergraduates, adolescents, at-risk individuals), and stem from different countries. While a moderate number of studies address the role of nutrition, sleep, and physical exercise in relation to schizotypy, studies intersecting these topics are limited. Of the limited studies that do exist, the majority are correlational with the beginnings of causal support from intervention studies. As such, more research is needed on the topics of nutrition, sleep, and exercise in relation to schizotypy. Specifically, future research should focus on providing a more holistic understanding of schizotypal traits and its subtypes, and which specific or combination of behaviors may reduce levels of schizotypy.

Association of positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy with cluster a, borderline, and avoidant personality disorders and traits.

The present study examined the associations of positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy dimensions assessed by the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale with 5 interview-rated personality disorder diagnoses and traits in 151 young adults. As hypothesized, all 3 schizotypy dimensions were associated with impaired functioning. Positive schizotypy was associated with schizotypal and borderline personality traits; negative schizotypy was associated with schizotypal, schizoid, paranoid, and avoidant personality traits; and disorganized schizotypy was associated with paranoid, borderline, and avoidant personality disorder traits. Negative schizotypy predicted broad diagnoses of Cluster A personality disorders. Both negative and disorganized schizotypy predicted the broad diagnosis of any of the 5 personality disorders. The study further examined the association of the schizotypy dimensions with the individual personality disorder criteria to better understand the overall associations. Given the common origins and high comorbidity, we examined whether the schizotypy dimensions explained the association of borderline and schizotypal personality disorder traits. Positive and disorganized schizotypy fully mediated the association between borderline and schizotypal traits. In summary, the study replicated and extended previous findings that the schizotypy dimensions are uniquely associated with personality disorders and traits, as well as impaired functioning, in young adults. The study also provided additional support for the construct validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale and for the use of psychometric assessment of schizotypy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The association of multidimensional schizotypy with symptoms and impairment across racial groups.

The assessment of schizotypy and schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology has historically been adversely impacted by multiple forms of measurement bias, including racial bias. The Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS) was developed using modern scale construction methods to minimize measurement bias in the assessment of schizotypic traits. However, studies have not examined the validity of the measurement across different racial groups. The present study examined whether the associations of MSS positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy subscales with interview-assessed ratings of functioning, schizophrenia-spectrum personality traits, and depressive disorders were generally comparable across nonclinically ascertained samples of Black (n = 46), Asian (n = 87), and White (n = 116) young adults. Consistent with previous findings, all three schizotypy subscales were associated with impairment and schizotypal and paranoid traits. Negative schizotypy was associated with schizoid traits, and disorganized schizotypy was associated with depressive disorders. These associations were comparable across the racial groups, supporting the use of the MSS in these groups. Culturally and empirically valid assessments are essential for providing accurate assessments across racial/ethnic groups and reducing the risk of overpathologizing people of color. The present findings support the cross-cultural validity of the MSS; however, future studies should expand upon these findings by including more diverse samples and longitudinal designs.

Relationship between substance use and schizotypal traits in school-aged adolescents.

The main goal of the present study was to analyze the relationship between substance use (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis) and schizotypal traits in a representative sample of school-aged adolescents from the general population. cross-sectional, descriptive survey 1,588 students (M = 16.13 years, SD = 1.36), 739 male (46.5%), selected by random stratified cluster sampling, participated in the study. The instruments administered were the Oviedo Questionnaire for Schizotypy Assessment, the Modified Substance Use Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Penn Matrix Reasoning Test, the Family Affluence Scale-II, and the Oviedo Infrequency Scale. Controlling for the effects of multiple covariates (gender, age, IQ, socio-economic level, psychopathology and consumption), the results showed that compared with non-users, alcohol drinkers reported higher average scores in the Social Disorganization dimension. Cigarette smokers, differentiated by frequency, reported higher average scores in the Anhedonia and Social Disorganization dimensions than non-smokers. No statistically significant differences between users and non-users of cannabis were found in terms of schizotypal traits. controlling for the effects of multiple covariates, adolescents who use tobacco and alcohol reported higher scores - depending on frequency of use - in schizotypal traits. Future studies should continue to analyze the role of substance use in individuals at risk of psychosis and determine its role in the transition to serious mental disorders using new methodologies such as ambulatory assessment.

Association of multidimensional schizotypy with psychotic-like experiences, affect, and social functioning in daily life: Comparable findings across samples and schizotypy measures.

The present study examined the associations of positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy with psychotic-like experiences, affect, and social functioning in daily life using experience sampling methodology (ESM) in 2 samples (ns = 165 and 203) that employed different measures of schizotypy. Schizotypy is a useful framework for understanding schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology, and ESM offers a powerful approach for assessing schizotypy in real-world settings. Participants were signaled 8 times daily for 7 days to complete ESM questionnaires. As hypothesized, positive schizotypy was robustly associated with psychotic-like experiences in daily life, whereas negative schizotypy was associated with negative experiences, diminished positive affect, and social disinterest in both samples. As expected, disorganized schizotypy was associated with disorganization in daily life. Furthermore, it was associated with increased negative affect and diminished positive affect. Thus, positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy were associated with unique, hypothesized patterns of experiences in daily life, and the findings across the two samples and two schizotypy measures were strikingly consistent. Note that when disorganized schizotypy was not entered as a predictor in the 2 samples, disorganized experiences and negative affect in daily life were associated with positive schizotypy. However, when disorganized schizotypy was included as a predictor, these daily life experiences were associated with disorganized, not positive, schizotypy. This is similar to findings from interview and questionnaire studies that have simultaneously assessed positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy. The findings support the construct validity of the multidimensional model of schizotypy and the importance of including disorganization in the conceptualization and assessment of schizotypy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

T48. DEVIATIONS IN MICRO AND MACRO WHITE MATTER STRUCTURES IN PSYCHOSIS PRONENESS

BackgroundPsychotic disorders are characterized by neurobiological deviations, including in the macro and microstructure of white matter. White matter alterations are also seen in psychosis-proneness and in individuals who have a high risk of psychosis. For example, studies have indicated decreases in white matter integrity in the genu/forceps minor of corpus callosum (CC) in the latter populations. Anterior corona radiata (ACR) is one crucial white-matter tract connecting the anterior cingulate cortex to the striatum. Indeed, reductions in the white matter structure of anterior genu of CC significantly predict the transition from ultra-high risk to psychosis. However, there is a gap in the literature related to observing the psychosis-proneness by applying both micro and macrostructural brain analyses, and most of the microstructural white matter studies in psychosis focus on fractional anisotropy (FA) and not include mean diffusivity (MD). Thus, the current study aims to assess whether white matter deviations in CG, ACR, and CC, are associated with psychosis proneness by combining both tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analyses in a sample of participants with psychosis proneness (PP) and without psychosis proneness (NPP).MethodsThe study included 53 participants (29 PP vs. 24 NPP) whose ages were between 17 and 24 years. Participants were split into two groups based on their scores on Structured Interview for Schizotypy assessment, a well-validated instrument of psychosis proneness. White matter integrity was analyzed via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and white matter volume (WMV) via VBM. Two sample t-test was used in GLM for both DTI and VBM analyses. FA, MD, and VMV were compared between two groups to observe micro and macro white matter structure alterations in the region of interest.ResultsDTI analysis revealed decreased FA values in the right ACR and right genu of the CC in the psychosis-proneness group (F(1,52)= 7.37, p= 0.009). Moreover, VBM showed a significant WMV decreases in the right CG, Brodmann areas 8, 9, and 32 in the PP group (F(1,52)= 50.85, uncorrected p<0.01). However, MD did not differ between the two groups (F(1,51)= 3.65, p=0.06)DiscussionThese findings suggest that PP associated with decreased white matter integrity in ACR, genu of CC, and also reduced white matter volumes in the right CG, Brodmann areas 8, 9, and 32. Significant FA decreases might result from alterations in radial or axial diffusivity since we did not observe significant MD differences between two groups. The current findings suggested that participants with PP had both macro and micro white matter structure disruptions, mostly in frontal parts of the right cerebrum, compared to no PP group.

Beyond Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: The Network Structure of Multidimensional Psychosis Liability in Adolescents.

ObjectivesThe main goal of the present study was to analyze the network structure of schizotypy dimensions in a representative sample of adolescents from the general population. Moreover, the network structure between schizotypy, mental health difficulties, subjective well-being, bipolar-like experiences, suicide ideation and behavior, psychotic-like experiences, positive and negative affect, prosocial behavior, and IQ was analyzed.MethodThe study was conducted in a sample of 1,506 students selected by stratified random cluster sampling. The Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire, the Personal Wellbeing Index–School Children, the Paykel Suicide Scale, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Prodromal Questionnaire–Brief, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children Shortened Version, and the Matrix Reasoning Test were used.ResultsThe estimated schizotypy network was interconnected. The most central nodes in terms of standardized Expected Influence (EI) were ‘unusual perceptual experiences’ and ‘paranoid ideation’. Predictability ranged from 8.7% (‘physical anhedonia’) to 52.7% (‘unusual perceptual experiences’). The average predictability was 36.27%, implying that substantial variability remained unexplained. For the multidimensional psychosis liability network predictability values ranged from 9% (estimated IQ) to 74.90% (‘psychotic-like experiences’). The average predictability was 43.46%. The results of the stability and accuracy analysis indicated that all networks were accurately estimated.ConclusionsThe present paper points to the value of conceptualizing psychosis liability as a dynamic complex system of interacting cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and affective characteristics. In addition, provide new insights into the nature of the relationships between schizotypy, as index of psychosis liability, and the role played by risk and protective factors.

The specificity of schizotypal scales and some implications for clinical high-risk research

Research on schizotypal personality and schizotypy has emerged as an important methodological alternative to the investigation of manifest schizophrenia. Contrary to the assumption that schizotypy/schizotypal personality is specifically associated with schizophrenia, some studies have shown that psychiatric controls at times achieve similar scores in schizotypy assessment tools to patients with schizophrenia. We compared patients with schizophrenia, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as nonclinical controls using different schizotypy scales. Further, we explored the impact of response tendencies on schizotypy scores. Patients with schizophrenia achieved higher scores on positive schizotypal scales, but no scale distinguished this group from controls. We developed a schizophrenia-specific scale, the Schizophrenia Proneness Scale, consisting of 17 items that discriminated patients with schizophrenia from all control groups. Many (sub)scales were correlated with social desirability and infrequency. Whether these items are predictive of later schizophrenia remains to be tested in independent and preferably longitudinal studies. Response biases distorted results and deserve greater consideration in the future. We also recommend that disorganized (Bleulerian) symptoms should be examined in more depth. In view of the low predictive accuracy of existing scales and the high stigma of a diagnosis of schizophrenia, clinicians should not overemphasize to patients the remote possibility of future psychosis.

Development and public release of a computerized adaptive (CAT) version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire

One of the most widely used measures of psychosis-related symptoms and characteristics is the 74-item Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Using multidimensional Item Response Theory (bifactor 2-parameter model), we calibrated SPQ items in a sample of 375 youths aged 9–24 years and constructed a fully functional computerized adaptive form of the SPQ on an open-source platform for public use. To assess validity, we used the above parameters to simulate CAT sessions in a separate validation sample (N = 100) using three test-length-based stopping rules: 8 items, 16 items, and 32 items. Those scores were then compared to full-form and SPQ-Brief scores on their abilities to predict psychosis or clinical risk status. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves indicated mediocre predictive ability, but did not differ among any of the forms, even when only eight adaptive items were administered. The Youden index for the 16-item adaptive version was higher than that for the 22-item SPQ-Brief. Classification accuracy for the full SPQ was 73% compared to 66% for the both the SPQ-Brief and adaptive versions (average of three stopping rules). The SPQ-CAT shows promise as a much shorter but valid assessment of schizotypy which can save time with minimal loss of information.

Attentional set-shifting and social abilities in children with schizotypal and comorbid autism spectrum disorders.

While diagnostically independent, autism and schizotypal disorders can co-occur. Their concurrent impact on outcomes and phenotypes has not been investigated. We investigated the impact of comorbid autism and schizotypal disorders in children on executive functioning and socio-pragmatic skills - core features of both disorders. Executive functioning (assessed with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery) and socio-pragmatic skills (assessed using the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids) were investigated in a total of 67 (6-12 year old) children with autism ( n = 15; M/F = 10/5), schizotypal disorder ( n = 8; M/F = 5/3) and comorbid autism and schizotypal disorder ( n = 12; M/F = 5/7) and typically developing children ( n = 32; M/F = 17/15). Both the autism and schizotypal disorder groups performed more poorly than the typically developing group on socio-pragmatic skills and overall performance (i.e. number of stages completed) of the intra-/extra-dimensional set-shifting task (all ps < 0.001). Clear distinctions between the autism and schizotypal groups were present in the intra-/extra-dimensional task relative to the typically developing group - the autism group had difficulties with extra-dimensional shifts ( p < 0.001), and the schizotypal disorder group with intra-dimensional shifts ( p = 0.08). Interestingly, the overall performance of the comorbid group on the intra-/extra-dimensional task was not significantly different from the typically developing group, and they were superior to both the autism ( p = 0.019) and schizotypal disorder ( p = 0.042) groups on socio-pragmatic skills. The phenotypical overlap between autism and schizotypal disorders may be precipitated by different cognitive styles and/or mechanisms associated with attention and information processing. We propose that sustaining and switching attention represent two poles of irregularities across the autism and schizotypal spectra, which appear to converge in a compensatory manner in the comorbid group. Our findings highlight the importance of investigating children with a dual diagnosis of autism and schizotypal disorders, and raise intriguing questions about possible mechanisms to explain the attenuated impairment observed in the group of children with comorbid autism and schizotpyal disorders.

Assessing social anhedonia in adolescence: The ACIPS-A in a community sample

To date, nearly all self-report measures of anhedonia have been developed for use with adult samples. A valid measure of anhedonia that can be used with adolescents would be useful in order to address key questions about the nature and course of anhedonia during adolescence. This study examined the psychometric properties of an adolescent version of a relatively new measure of social anhedonia, namely, the Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale (ACIPS-A). The ACIPS-A was administered to a general, community-derived Spanish adolescent sample of 449 students, including 251 males (55.9%), who ranged in age from 13 to 19 years old. Other measures included the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS), anhedonia subscales from the Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire (ESQUIZO-Q), and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Exploratory factor analysis yielded a four-factor solution (close relationships, casual friendships and relationships, social bonding, and negative affiliation/emancipation). The total ACIPS-A showed excellent internal consistency, with ordinal alpha=0.95. The ACIPS-A total scores were positively correlated with the TEPS-Anticipatory scores (r=0.44, P<0.001) and TEPS-Consummatory scores (r=0.30, P<0.001) but not with total GHQ-12 scores. The ACIPS-A total scores were negatively correlated with social anhedonia subscale scores (r=−0.55) taken from a measure developed for use with adolescents. These results suggest that the ACIPS-A is a valid measure for use with non-clinical adolescents and is likely to prove useful for screening purposes.

Classifying risk status of non-clinical adolescents using psychometric indicators for psychosis spectrum disorders

This study is an attempt to evaluate extant psychometric indicators using latent profile analysis for classifying community-derived individuals based on a set of clinical, behavioural, and personality traits considered risk markers for psychosis spectrum disorders. The present investigation included four hundred and forty-nine high-school students between the ages of 12 and 19. We used the following to assess risk: the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B), Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire (ESQUIZO-Q), Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale-Adolescent version (ACIPS-A), and General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). Using Latent profile analysis six latent classes (LC) were identified: participants in class 1 (LC1) displayed little or no symptoms and accounted for 38.53% of the sample; class 2 (LC2), who accounted for 28.06%, also produced low mean scores across most measures though they expressed somewhat higher levels of subjective distress; LC3, a positive schizotypy group (10.24%); LC4 (13.36%), a psychosis high-risk group; LC5, a high positive and negative schizotypy group (4.45%); and LC6, a very high distress, severe clinical high-risk group, comprised 5.34% of the sample. The current research indicates that different latent classes of early individuals at risk can be empirically defined in adolescent community samples using psychometric indicators for psychosis spectrum disorders. These findings may have implications for early detection and prevention strategies in psychosis spectrum disorders.

Season of birth and population schizotypy: Results from a large sample of the adult general population

Although the last years have seen an increasing interest in schizotypy and its pathogenesis, there exist only a handful of studies examining the possible interaction between season of birth (SOB) and schizotypic personality structure. Available research used differing screening instruments, rendering comparisons between studies difficult, and sample sizes in adult populations may have been too small to detect a mild effect. The current study examined the association between SOB and psychometric schizotypy in the so far single-largest sample from the adult general population (N=8114), balanced for men and women, and utilizing a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of schizotypy. Using the 12 most informative items of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief, we obtained evidence of a small, but significant, effect of late winter and early spring births (February/March) on psychometric schizotypy. The effect was not constrained to women, but affected men and women alike. The observed association between SOB and schizotypy appears compatible with seasonal variations of temperature and influenza prevalence, and with recent evidence on seasonal variability in the activity of the human immune system. Our findings lend support to the continuum hypothesis of schizotypy and schizophrenia, for which SOB effects have been previously established.

Normative data of the Magical Ideation Scale from childhood to adulthood in an Italian cohort

The assessment of schizotypy allows to identify people at risk to develop psychosis. For this purpose, psychometric tools have been developed, such as the Magical Ideation Scale (MIS). This scale investigates attenuated forms of thought transmission experiences, thought withdrawal and aberrant beliefs, related to positive schizotypy. This study aims at providing an Italian version of the MIS and its normative data in the general population from childhood to adulthood, being the first study evaluating subjects under 17year-old. The Italian MIS version was translated by three independent operators and administered to 1378 non-clinical participants, stratified into four age groups (i.e., 8–13, 14–17, 18–24 and 25–34). The unidimensionality of the scale was supported, and its internal consistency was satisfactory (i.e., ordinal Cronbach's αs ranging from 0.86 to 0.90 in different age groups), as well as test–retest reliability (i.e., 1-month ICC of 0.82 in a retested sub-sample). Normative data for the age groups were provided. Specific gender and age-related differences in MIS score were found, i.e. females scored higher than males in the 25–34 age group, which in general, as a group, scored lower than all the other age groups. This study provided evidence of reliability for the Italian version of the MIS in childhood and adolescence, for the first time, as well as in adulthood, showing specific gender and age effects in the early adult cohort.

Assessing self-reported clinical high risk symptoms in community-derived adolescents: A psychometric evaluation of the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief

BackgroundThe reliable early identification of individuals at risk for psychosis requires well-validated screening measures. To date, there is little information about the psychometric properties of the screening measures for psychosis risk in nonclinical adolescents. The main purpose of the present study was to validate the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B) in a community sample of non-clinical Spanish adolescents. We also analyzed the prevalence, factorial validity, and reliability of the PQ-B scores as well as the relationship between self-reported clinical high risk symptoms and schizotypal traits. MethodFour hundred and forty-nine high-school students participated in a cross-sectional survey. The PQ-B and the Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire (ESQUIZO-Q) were used. ResultsAlthough 85.1% of the total sample reported at least one clinical high risk symptom, only 16% of the adolescents scored above the standardized cut-off. The PQ-B revealed an essentially unidimensional structure. The internal consistency of the PQ-B total score was 0.93. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated a high degree of overlap between self-reported clinical high risk symptoms and Positive and Disorganized schizotypal traits. A Canonical correlation between the PQ-B total score and ESQUIZO-Q dimensions showed that the associated variance between both sets of variables was 45.4% (adjusted R2=0.45). ConclusionsThe PQ-B is a brief, easy, and reliable tool for screening self-reported clinical high risk symptoms in adolescents from the general population. These results also indicated that self-reported clinical high risk symptoms and schizotypal traits are closely associated at the subclinical level. The assessment of psychosis risk symptoms and their relationship with other distal risk factors, in a close-in strategy, may enhance the early identification of individuals at heightened risk for psychosis spectrum disorders.

Impaired facial emotion recognition in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis and with first-episode schizophrenia, and their associations with neurocognitive deficits and self-reported schizotypy

ObjectiveThis study aims to quantify facial emotion recognition abnormalities and their relation to neurocognitive dysfunction and schizotypy in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis and patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES). MethodsForty individuals at UHR for psychosis, 24 patients with FES and 46 normal controls performed a facial emotion recognition task that presented facial photographs encompassing all basic emotions. The perceptual aberration scale and revised social anhedonia scale were employed for self-reported assessment of schizotypy. An intellectual functioning (IQ) test and a broad battery of neurocognitive tests were conducted. Emotional task performance indexed by accuracy rate of specific emotion was compared among three groups. The correlation of accuracy rate with neurocognitive tests and schizotypy scales were analyzed within each clinical group. ResultsA recognition deficit of facial emotions was present in both clinical groups, even after adjusting for IQ and gender as covariates. This emotional deficit showed few significant relationships with broad range of individual neurocognitive measures. Meanwhile, this deficit demonstrated significant relationships with schizotypy, especially perceptual aberration in each clinical group. ConclusionsFacial emotion recognition deficit may not only be present in FES patients, but may already have evolved prior to the onset of overt psychotic symptoms. This emotion recognition deficit may be linked to a perceptual aberration and largely independent of broad range of neurocognitive dysfunction.

Assessment of Schizotypy and Cluster a Personality Profiles with Scid-ii and Swap-200.

Introduction Schizotypy and Cluster A personality profiles are more represented in first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia than in the general population. This study presents two diagnostic instruments for the assessment of cluster A personality profiles: the Structured Clinical Interview for personality disorders Axis II (SCID-II) and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP 200). Objectives 1) Verify sensitivity of SCID-II and SWAP-200 to detect schizophrenia spectrum personality traits; 2) Assess the prevalence of the traits and personality disorders (PD) related to cluster A. Aim Evaluate diagnostic sensitivity of these instruments in detecting schizotypy and cluster A personality profiles, that are ultra high risk predictors for psychosis. Methods 25 schizophrenic patients(SchzP), 18 their first-degree relatives(FdR), 23 healthy-control(HC) subjects, have been subjected to personality assessment. MANOVA and subsequent planned comparisons were assessed to detect difference between PD profiles in the three groups. Results SchzP present significant scores relative to cluster A in both evaluations. FdR show statistically significant differences compared with HC, with higher mean scores relative to cluster A profiles measured with SWAP-200 [PD: Paranoid F(1,63)=7.02;p=0.01. Schizoid F(1,63)=6.56;p=0.013. Schizotypy F(1,63)=6.1;p=0.016; Q-Factor: Schizoid (F(1,63)=6.47;p=0.013; Paranoid F(1,63)=2.11;p=0.151], but not with SCID-II. Conclusions Data suggest low sensitivity of SCID-II to identify traits related to cluster A. FdR scored for traits related to schizophrenia spectrum greater than in the general population. SWAP-200 is able to accurately evidentiate the presence of schizotypal traits in FdR of patients with schizophrenia and suggests the importance of a clinical dimensional diagnosis for a more reliable identification of schizophrenia spectrum.

The assessment of schizotypy and its clinical relevance.

This article reviews several approaches to assessing schizotypal traits using a wide variety of self-report and interview measures. It makes a distinction between clinical approaches largely based on syndrome and symptom definitions, and psychometric approaches to measuring personality traits. The review presents a brief description of the content and psychometric properties of both sets of measures; these cover both the broad rubric of schizotypy often, but not exclusively based on DSM conceptions, as well as measures with a more specific focus. Measurement of schizotypy has taken place within clinical and nonclinical research utilizing a range of designs and methodologies. Several of these are elucidated with respect to the assessment choices open to researchers, and the implications of the measures chosen. These paradigms include the case-control study, "high risk"/"ultra-high risk" groups, a variety of nonclinical groups and other groups of interest, large scale epidemiology and "in vivo" designs. Evidence from a wide variety of designs continues to provide evidence of the validity of both clinical and personality approaches to schizotypal assessment.