Personality Questionnaire Scores Research Articles

Personality traits as predictors for treatment response to sertraline among unmedicated obsessive-compulsive Disorder: A 12-weeks retrospective longitudinal study

The effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as a primary treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remains uncertain. Even after undergoing standard SSRIs treatment, 40%–60% of individuals with OCD persistently endure symptoms. Recent studies proposed that personality traits may influence the diversity of OCD treatment results. Thus, in this retrospective study, we evaluated the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) scores of 51 untreated patients with OCD and 35 healthy controls. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) was employed to assess OCD symptom severity at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 of sertraline treatment. The primary outcome focused on the reduction rate of Y-BOCS scores (response: ≥25%; marked response: ≥50%). Our findings revealed that individuals with OCD demonstrated a significantly higher neuroticism score compared to healthy controls. Correlation analyses exposed a positive link between psychoticism and the duration of the disease. Moreover, family history strongly correlated with both obsessive thoughts and the total Y-BOCS score. Subsequent univariate Cox proportional analyses indicated that both low neuroticism and high extraversion traits could forecast the response to sertraline. Furthermore, only a high extraversion trait was linked to a marked response. Our results support the idea that personality traits may contribute to OCD vulnerability and predict sertraline treatment outcomes.

Altered grey matter volume and white matter integrity in individuals with high schizo-obsessive traits, high schizotypal traits and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Altered brain structures have been found in patients with schizo-obsessive disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder in previous studies. However, it is unclear whether similar brain changes are also found in individuals with high schizo-obsessive traits (SOT), high schizotypal traits (SCT) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). We examined grey matter volume (GMV) and white matter integrity (WMI, including fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity) in 26 individuals with high SOT, 30 individuals with high SCT, 25 individuals with OCS and 30 individuals with low trait scores (LT) in this study. Correlation analysis between GMV, WMI, Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) scores and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) scores in the subclinical groups was also carried out. We found that the SOT group exhibited increased GMV at the right superior occipital gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus compared with the LT group. The SCT group exhibited increased GMV at the right precentral gyrus and the bilateral cuneus compared with the LT group, and decreased fractional anisotropy at the anterior corona radiata compared with the other three groups. The OCS group exhibited increased GMV at the left superior temporal gyrus and decreased GMV at the left pre-supplementary motor area compared with the LT group. These findings highlight specific brain changes in individuals with high SOT, high SCT and OCS, and may thus provide new insights into the neurobiological changes that occur in sub-clinical populations of these disorders.

The Motivation and Opportunity for Socially Desirable Responding Does Not Alter the General Factor of Personality.

Socially desirable responding may affect the factor structure of personality questionnaires and may be one of the reasons for the common variance among personality traits. In this study, we test this hypothesis by investigating the influence of the motivational test-taking context (development vs. selection) and the opportunity to distort responses (forced-choice vs. Likert response format) on personality questionnaire scores. Data from real selection and assessment candidates (total N = 3,980) matched on gender, age, and educational level were used. Mean score differences were found between the selection and development groups, with smaller differences for the FC version. Yet, exploratory structural equation models showed that the overall factor structures as well as the general factor were highly similar across the four groups. Thus, although socially desirable responding may affect mean scores on personality traits, it does not appear to affect factor structures. This study further suggests that the common variance in personality questionnaires is consistent and appears to be little influenced by motivational pressures for response distortion.

How Much Practice Is Required to Reduce Performance Variability in a Virtual Reality Mining Simulator?

Virtual reality allows researchers to explore training scenarios that are not feasible or are potentially risky to recreate in the real world. The aim of this research was to examine whether using a tutorial session prior to using the mining simulator could adequately reduce the performance variability and increase the consistency of participant performance metrics. Eighteen participants were randomly assigned to a tutorial or a non-tutorial group. The tutorial group completed a five-minute tutorial that introduced them to the basics of the machine and virtual reality environment. All participants then completed five sessions in the simulator lasting five minutes each. Personality scores were recorded and participants answered questions to test their situational awareness after each session. Performance metrics such as number of collisions and perception response time were recorded by the simulator. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine at what point a significant difference in performance metrics was apparent across the five sessions. A mixed effects multilevel regression was done to evaluate the change in variability across time. There were no significant correlations between the personality questionnaire scores and the number of collisions or the perception response time. Both groups demonstrated high standard deviation scores for collisions and perception response time, but the tutorial group had decreasing variability across time. Both groups began to exhibit more consistent scores in the simulator after 10 min of use. Situational awareness questions require some refinement prior to further testing.

Individual and combined effects of acute delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on psychotomimetic symptoms and memory function

The main active ingredient in cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can acutely induce psychotic symptoms and impair episodic and working memory. Another major constituent, cannabidiol (CBD), may attenuate these effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of THC and CBD, both alone and in combination on psychotic symptoms and memory function. A randomised, double-blind crossover design compared the effects of (i) placebo, (ii) THC 8 mg, (iii) CBD 16 mg and (iv) THC 8 mg + CBD 16 mg administered by inhalation through a vaporiser. Using an experimental medicine approach to predict treatment sensitivity, we selected 48 cannabis users from the community on the basis of (1) schizotypal personality questionnaire scores (low, high) and (2) frequency of cannabis use (light, heavy). The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Psychotomimetic States Inventory (PSI), immediate and delayed prose recall (episodic memory), 1- and 2-back (working memory) were assessed on each day. Results indicated that THC increased overall scores on the PSI, negative symptoms on BPRS, and robustly impaired episodic and working memory. Co-administration of CBD did not attenuate these effects. CBD alone reduced PSI scores in light users only. At a ratio of 2:1, CBD does not attenuate the acute psychotic and memory impairing effects of vaporised THC. Frequent cannabis users may show a blunted anti- psychotic response to CBD, which is of concern due to the high rates of cannabis use disorders in patients with schizophrenia.

Functional gastrointestinal diseases and psychological maladjustment, personality traits and quality of life

BackgroundChronic abdominal pain is a common worldwide problem and known to be associated with psychological problems. This study evaluated the association between abdominal pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs), psychological maladjustment and personality traits in adolescents.MethodsAdolescents aged 13–18 years were recruited from 5 randomly selected schools in Ampara district of Sri Lanka. AP-FGIDs were diagnosed using Rome III criteria. Translated and validated Rome III questionnaire (Child report form), personality questionnaire (PAQ) and PedsQL (Pediatric Quality of Life) inventory were used in data collection. Written consent was obtained from a parent and assent was obtained from every child recruited. The questionnaire was distributed in an examination setting to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Research assistants were present during data collection to assist on any necessary clarifications.ResultsA total of 1697 subjects were recruited [males 779 (45.9%), mean age 15.1 years, SD 1.6 years]. AP-FGIDs were present in 202 (11.9%). Those with AP-FGIDs had significantly higher mean scores for all personality traits (hostility and aggression, negative self-esteem, emotional unresponsiveness, emotional instability and negative world view), except dependency. Affected children had lower scores for all 4 domains of HRQoL (physical, emotional, social and school functioning), compared to controls (p < 0.05). When the cut off value for Sri Lankan children (89) was used, 66.3% with AP-FGIDs and 48.2% controls had PAQ scores within that of psychological maladjustment (p < 0.001). When the international normative value of 105 was used, these percentages were 27.2% and 14.2% respectively (p < 0.0001). The scores obtained for PAQ negatively correlated with scores obtained for HRQoL (r = − 0.52, p < 0.0001). One hundred and seventeen adolescents with AP-FGIDs (57.9%) had sought healthcare for their symptoms. Healthcare consulters had higher PAQ and lower HRQoL scores (p < 0.05).ConclusionsAdolescents with AP-FGIDs have more psychological maladjustment and abnormal personality traits than healthy controls. Affected adolescents with higher psychological maladjustments have lower HRQoL. Greater psychological maladjustment and lower HRQoL are associated with healthcare seeking behaviour in adolescents with AP-FGIDs.

The structure of schizotypal personality traits: a cross-national study.

Schizotypal traits are considered a phenotypic-indicator of schizotypy, a latent personality organization reflecting a putative liability for psychosis. To date, no previous study has examined the comparability of factorial structures across samples originating from different countries and cultures. The main goal was to evaluate the factorial structure and reliability of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) scores by amalgamating data from studies conducted in 12 countries and across 21 sites. The overall sample consisted of 27 001 participants (37.5% males, n = 4251 drawn from the general population). The mean age was 22.12 years (s.d. = 6.28, range 16-55 years). The SPQ was used. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Multilevel CFA (ML-CFA) were used to evaluate the factor structure underlying the SPQ scores. At the SPQ item level, the nine factor and second-order factor models showed adequate goodness-of-fit. At the SPQ subscale level, three- and four-factor models displayed better goodness-of-fit indices than other CFA models. ML-CFA showed that the intraclass correlation coefficients values were lower than 0.106. The three-factor model showed adequate goodness of fit indices in multilevel analysis. The ordinal α coefficients were high, ranging from 0.73 to 0.94 across individual samples, and from 0.84 to 0.91 for the combined sample. The results are consistent with the conceptual notion that schizotypal personality is a multifaceted construct and support the validity and utility of SPQ in cross-cultural research. We discuss theoretical and clinical implications of our results for diagnostic systems, psychosis models and cross-national mental health strategies.

Research on experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion and type D personality of pregnant

Objective To explore the relationship among experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion and type D personality in pregnant women. Methods 309 pregnant women were assessed with self-made general information questionnaire, acceptance and action questionnaire-2nd edition(AAQ-Ⅱ), cognitive fusion questionnaire(CFQ) and type D personality scale(DS14). Results Average score of AAQ-Ⅱ and CFQ of 309 pregnant women were (16.41±7.55)and (24.24±10.90), respectively. According to the type D personality questionnaire scores, the subjects were divided into four groups.Average score of each group on AAQ-Ⅱ and CFQ was respectively (21.25±8.18) and (31.12±10.99) for type D personality group (Group 1), (19.80±6.14) and (27.67±9.76) for negative emotion group(Group 2), (15.12±6.40) and (22.16±9.56) for social inhibition group (group 3) and (14.02±6.61) and (21.18±10.03) for group without negative emotions and social inhibition(group 4). The differences between groups were statistically significant (F=19.44, 17.372, all P<0.01). Correlation analysis revealed that AAQ-Ⅱ and CFQ were positively related to NA and SI(r=0.484, 0.251, 0.477, 0.302, P<0.05). NA and SI all entered the AAQ-Ⅱregression equation and CFQ regression equation respectively: Y1=4.655+ 1.032X1+ 0.836X2, Y2=8.013+ 1.233X1+ 0.745X2 ( Y1 as AAQ-Ⅱ, Y2 as CFQ, X1 as NA, X2 as SI). Conclusion Pregnant women with type D personality have the worst psychological flexibility. The two demensions of type D personality are predictive to experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion. Key words: Experiential avoidance; Cognitive fusion; Type D personality; Pregnant

Relationship among methadone dose, polymorphisms of dopamine D2 receptor and tri-dimensional personality questionnaire in heroin-addicted patients.

BackgroundWe investigated whether variation in the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) and tri-dimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ) scores could be used to aid adjustment of daily methadone requirements of heroin addicts. DRD2 TaqI B polymorphisms and TPQ scores were determined in 138 male Taiwanese heroin addicts who were receiving methadone treatment. Borderline index (harm avoidance + novelty seeking—reward dependence) was calculated for each subject, and three groups were defined: high (mean from all subjects plus 1 standard deviation, or greater), low (half of the calculated high score, or lower) and medium (all values between the high and low scores).ResultsNo significant differences in age (p = 0.60), mean methadone dose (p = 0.75) or borderline index group (p = 0.25) were observed between subjects bearing the B1/B1, B1/B2 and B2/B2 DRD2 TaqI genotypes. Among the individuals with low (≤10), medium (11–20) and high (≥21) borderline index scores, there was a significant difference in mean methadone dose (p = 0.04), but not age (p = 0.90). Further analysis showed that mean methadone dose was significantly higher in subjects with low borderline index scores than in those with high scores (62.5 vs. 47.0 mg/day, p = 0.03). The odds ratio for a daily methadone requirement ≥60 mg (median dose across the 138 subjects) was 2.64-fold greater in the low borderline index group than in the high group (p = 0.04).ConclusionsAlthough the DRD2 TaqI B genotype was not associated with methadone use requirements, borderline index was revealed as a potential predictive marker for the adjustment of methadone dosage requirements in heroin addicts.

Relación entre rasgos y tipos de personalidad con la especialidad médica elegida por un grupo de médicos residentes

IntroductionThe study of personality trait and type of physicians began in the United States in 1960 under the hypothesis that personality prompts the type of specialty chosen to be pursued. Chile and Spain are the countries where this relationship has been studied most. In Mexico there are few studies that have served to further understand the ways in which physicians confront problems they face during their training. This is the first study done with physicians that are part of the different medical specialties imparted in the Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra National Institute for Rehabilitation under the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the type of personality and the medical specialty chosen. ObjectiveTo determine if the National Institute for Rehabilitation resident physician's personality type differs significantly from other specialities. MethodA cross-sectional study was performed in which the 16PF-5 factorial personality questionnaire was completed by 50 resident physicians belonging to five of the seven specialities available in the Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra National Institute for Rehabilitation. The questionnaire examines 16 primary personality traits that include 5 general personality dimensions. The data obtained was analysed using the SPSS 17 statistics program. For the comparison between two proportions, the chi squared test was used, and the distribution form of the factorial personality questionnaire scores was corroborated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The mean comparison by sex was performed using the Student t test for independent samples or with the Mann Whitney U test. The mean comparison for specialties was made using analysis of variance or with Kruskal-Wallis. The multivariate analysis was performed using a discriminant analysis model and the 2 factor analysis of variance. ResultsOf the 16 traits, reasoning, tension, and self-sufficiency stand out. The lowest were: affability and vigilance. Of the 5 dimensions, independence and anxiety stand out, while the lowest were extroversion and hardness. By gender, they were differentiated M vs. F: stability 6.20±1.3 vs. 5.17±1.5 (p=.018) and (0.655, p=.0001). ConclusionsThere are outstanding differences among the personality traits and personality dimensions.

The Nose Influences Visual and Personality Perception.

Nasal deformities are known to attract attention, are felt to be stigmatizing, and are known to affect negatively the perception of personalities. These effects have not been studied on profile views. The objective of this study was the quantification of visual attention directed toward nasal deformities and its impact on the perception of personality traits. Forty observers were divided into two groups and their visual scanpaths were recorded. Both groups observed a series of photographs displaying profile views of 20 adult patients' faces with one or more nasal deformities or computer-morphed corrected noses. Photographs were chosen from a consecutive sample of patients (range: 17-68 years, median: 45) who requested a rhinoplasty at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery of the Cantonal Hospital Sankt Gallen, Switzerland. Patients' photographs showed a nasal deformity in one series and a computer-morphed nose in the other series and vice versa. Visual fixation times on the noses were compared between the photographs with and without a nasal deformity. Observers subsequently rated personality traits using visual analog scales. The nasal profile with a deformity received more visual attention in 17 of 20 patients (85%). The mean relative fixation duration of all nasal deformities was significantly larger compared with all computer-simulated noses (17.3 ± 6.9 [SD] vs. 10.6 ± 2.5%; p < 0.001). Cumulative personality questionnaire scores and the score for satisfaction were significantly lower for faces with nasal deformities compared with computer-morphed noses (27.8 ± 6.0 vs. 29.1 ± 6.0, p = 0.040, and 5.3 ± 1.59 vs. 5.7 ± 1.53, p = 0.017, respectively). For deformed noses, the mean relative fixation duration did not correlate with the cumulative personality score (R = - 0.399; p = 0.082). To the best knowledge of the authors, an attention-drawing potential of nasal deformities on a profile view has been quantified for the first time. This seems to lead to a more negative perception of personality traits.

Assessment of self-disorders in a non-clinical population: Reliability and association with schizotypy

This study explores whether self-disorders occur and can be assessed reliably in a non-clinical sample, and whether the prevalence of these anomalies depends upon the degree of psychometrically defined schizotypy. Participants with either high (n=30) or low (n=20) schizotypy scores were interviewed using a modified version of the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE). The degree to which interviewees experienced self-disorder symptoms was rated by the interviewer and an independent rater. Inter-rater reliability was calculated for each item, domain scores and the total score. For the total, sample most items (=66) showed substantial or perfect agreement (κ>0.61), with a few (=6) showing moderate agreement (κ>0.41). Reliability scores were only slightly lower when just the more homogeneous group of individuals with high Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) scores were examined. As expected, high SPQ scores were associated with a high level of self-disorders. In sum, the results suggest that self-disorders can be measured reliably in non-clinical samples and are particularly frequent in individuals with pronounced schizotypical traits.

Effect of protruding ears on visual fixation time and perception of personality.

Protruding ears are often thought to be a stigma, supposedly drawing attention and negatively influencing the perception of personality. These purported negative effects that may indicate corrective aesthetic otoplasty in patients too young to provide informed consent have not been quantified. To quantify attention directed toward protruding ears and its effect on the perception of selected personality traits. In this observational study conducted from August 1, 2013, to October 31, 2013, visual scan paths were recorded of 20 lay observers looking at photographs of faces of 20 children (age range, 5-19 years) with either protruding ears or ears morphed via computer software to appear nonprotruding. Subsequently, the observers rated 10 perceived personality traits based on the same photographs. Visual fixation time on protruding vs nonprotruding ears was compared and correlated with observers' scores for personality traits. Fixation time on protruding ears was significantly longer compared with that for morphed nonprotruding ears (mean [SD], 9.6% [5.6%] vs 5.8% [3.2%] of total fixation time, P = .04). The difference between the overall personality questionnaire scores and between individual scores for assiduousness, intelligence, and likeability was not significant for protruding and nonprotruding ears. Faces in which the protruding auricles received the highest percentage of visual attention scored higher than average for the overall personality scores (mean [SD], 66.09 [4.50] vs. 55.81 [13.36]) and for assiduousness (6.64 [0.74] vs. 5.59 [1.41]), intelligence (6.78 [0.74] vs. 5.83 [1.31]), and likeability (7.29 [0.47] vs. 6.28 [1.40]). Protruding ears had the potential to draw viewers' attention but did not cause a negative perception of personality traits. This study therefore does not provide confirmatory evidence for the stigmatizing nature of protruding ears. 3.

Relationship between cancer‐related fatigue and personality in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy

This study aimed to explore the relationship between cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and personality in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy. A cross-sectional study was conducted to study the relationship between CRF and personality in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. CRF and personality were measured by the cancer fatigue score and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, respectively. A total of 300 breast cancer patients who had received chemotherapy were recruited to this study. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire scores of psychoticism, introversion, and extroversion in the patients were lower than the norm level (p < 0.01), but those of neuroticism and lie were higher than the norm level (p < 0.01). Multivariate analyses showed positive correlation between psychoticism and affective fatigue, neuroticism and total fatigue, and physical fatigue and cognitive fatigue. Multivariate analyses also showed negative correlation between introversion or extroversion and total fatigue, physical fatigue or affective fatigue, and lie and total fatigue or cognitive fatigue. There was CRF in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy. Psychoticism, extroversion/introversion, neuroticism, and lie are correlated with CRF in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy.

Social Functioning in Chinese College Students with and without Schizotypal Personality Traits: An Exploratory Study of the Chinese Version of the First Episode Social Functioning Scale

ObjectivesThe First Episode Social Functioning Scale (FESFS) was designed to measure social functioning of young individuals with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to validate a Chinese version of the FESFS in a sample of young Chinese adults.MethodThe FESFS was translated to Chinese prior to being administered to 1576 college students. The factor structure, reliability, and validity of the scale were examined.ResultsTwo items were deleted after item analysis and the internal consistency of the whole scale was .89. A six-factor structure was derived by exploratory factor analysis. The factors were interpersonal, family and friends, school, living skills, intimacy, and balance. Estimates of the structural equation model supported this structure, with Goodness of Fit Chi-Square χ2 = 1097.53 (p<0.0001), the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.058, and the comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.93. Scale validity was supported by significant correlations between social functioning factors scores and schizophrenia personality questionnaire (SPQ) scores. Individuals with schizotypal personality features presented poorer social functioning than those without schizotypal personality features.ConclusionsThe Chinese revised version of the FESFS was found to have good psychometric properties and could be used in the future to examine social functioning in Chinese college students.

The Interference of Introversion–Extraversion and Depressive Symptomatology with Reasoning Performance: A Behavioural Study

The objective of this study was to investigate the link between the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) scores and depressive symptomatology with reasoning performance induced by a task including valid and invalid Aristotelian syllogisms. The EPQ and the Zung Depressive Scale (ZDS) were completed by 48 healthy subjects (27 male, 21 female) aged 33.5 ± 9.0 years. Additionally, the subjects engaged into two reasoning tasks (valid vs. invalid syllogisms). Analysis showed that the judgment of invalid syllogisms is a more difficult task than of valid judgments (65.1% vs. 74.6% of correct judgments respectively, p < 0.01). In both conditions, the subjects' degree of confidence is significantly higher when they make a correct judgment than when they make an incorrect judgment (83.8 ± 11.2 vs. 75.3 ± 17.3, p < 0.01). Subjects with extraversion as measured by EPQ and high sexual desire as rated by the relative ZDS subscale are more prone to make incorrect judgments in the valid syllogisms, while, at the same time, they are more confident in their responses. The effects of extraversion/introversion and sexual desire on the outcome measures of the valid condition are not commutative but additive. These findings indicate that extraversion/introversion and sexual desire variations may have a detrimental effect in the reasoning performance.

Eysenck’s model of personality and psychopathological components in right- and left-handers

The link between handedness, personality, and psychopathology remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate in right- and left-handers the link between the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) scores and psychopathology status in a non-clinical sample of young adults. The EPQ, the Symptom Checklist 90 and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory were completed by 84 normal young adults, 43 left-handers (20 males) and 41 right-handers (21 males). Canonical correlation analysis revealed that right-handers exhibited a positive association between the EPQ-neuroticism score and the symptom-fields of obsessive–compulsive, anxiety, depression and hostility. In left-handers, the EPQ-neuroticism score was positively associated with the symptom-fields of depression, psychoticism, paranoid ideation, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, hostility, and somatisation. Additionally, right-handers showed a protective effect of the combination of high EPQ-extraversion with low EPQ-psychoticism on the development of four psychopathology symptom-fields, namely interpersonal sensitivity, depression, psychoticism, and obsessive–compulsive behavior. These findings suggest that personality patterns, such as high levels of neuroticism, in relationship to handedness may induce phenotypic psychopathological variations.

Are social networking profiles reliable indicators of sensational interests?

Sensational interests are sometimes reported on the personal profiles of social networking web sites such as Facebook. Can these reports be validated against established psychometric tools used by forensic psychologists? Given that web sites and personal profiles can be used as evidence of a person’s ‘character’ in legal contexts, evaluating their reliability and validity is important. This study evaluated the reliability of extracting data from the interests and activities sections of Facebook profiles, linking them to general personality and Sensational Interests Questionnaire (SIQ) scores. Data from 694 user profiles ( N = 352 males) were linked to the Big Five personality traits, age, and educational attainment. Three independent raters coded the number of sensational topics reported by a user in each section. In Poisson regression analyses, higher SIQ Violent Occultism scores predicted a larger count of sensational interests, and sensational activities in males only. Higher SIQ Militarism scores predicted a larger number of sensational interests in males, but a smaller number in females. Although the number of sensational interests reported by social networking users on their personal profiles is potentially informative, further research should investigate gender differences, and why females with greater Militarism scores are less likely to report what these specific interests are.

An event-related brain potential study of schizotypal personality and associative semantic processing

To examine whether schizotypal personality is associated with the degree to which concepts activate each other in semantic memory, event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a delayed lexical decision task from healthy volunteers rated for schizotypy. Each target word was directly, indirectly, or not at all related to a prime word preceding it at a 300- or 750-ms stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA). Overall, N400 amplitudes were largest for unrelated targets, smallest for directly related targets, and intermediate for indirectly related targets. Higher total Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) scores correlated with smaller N400 indirect priming effects (i.e., smaller N400 amplitude differences between unrelated and indirectly related targets) at both SOAs. In addition, schizotypal subscale scores were differentially associated with N400 effects. Higher SPQ Cognitive-Perceptual scores correlated with smaller N400 direct priming effects (smaller N400 amplitude differences between unrelated and directly related targets) at both SOAs, and with smaller N400 indirect priming effects at the shorter SOA. These correlations are consistent with the hypothesis that decreased use of meaningful context to activate related concepts in general, and/or to inhibit unrelated concepts, may play some role in the development of unusual beliefs.

Polydrug use, cannabis, and psychosis‐like symptoms

To examine psychosis-like symptoms in users of legal and illicit drugs. Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) scores were compared in groups of people with different exposure to cannabis, with the use of other drugs serving as a covariate. Supplemental analyses compared users of legal and illicit drugs with cannabis use as a covariate. Weekly (n = 111) and monthly (n = 136) cannabis users had higher scores on the SPQ than former (n = 143) and non-users (n = 81). The use of other drugs accounted for the links between cannabis and schizotypy. Lifetime use of psychomotor stimulant drugs plus ecstasy accounted for associations between cannabis and scores on the SPQ and its different subscales. Dividing groups by type of drug use revealed that those who used only cannabis and legal drugs (CLDs) (n = 126) were no different from those who used only legal drugs (LDs) (n = 74) but both groups scored significantly lower on the SPQ than polydrug users (n = 247). When controlling for marijuana use in the last month, the significant difference across drug use groups remained. The results suggest that research on marijuana and schizotypy requires careful assessment of the use of other drugs, especially psychomotor stimulants and ecstasy.