Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Schizotypal personality disorder'

Schizotypal Cognitions (RISC) were related to interview derived ratings of DSM-III-R schizotypal personality disorder and other personality disorders in a non-clinical college sample was examined. Moderate correlations between the RISC and schizotypal scores, but not between the RISC and other personality disorders, provided support for the validity and suggested reasonable specificity for the instrument. RISC scores correlated the greatest with schizotypal symptoms that reflect a strong cognitive component (e.g., perceptual illusions) but did not correlate with symptoms associated with social adaptation or interpersonal functioning (e.g., excessive social anxiety). Cutoff scores set at approximately 2 S.D. above the RISC mean best discriminated between non-cases and cases of subthreshold and definite schizotypal personality disorder. Limitations of the RISC and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Department of Psychological Science

Olfactory identification deficits have received recent attention as a potentially useful endophenotype for schizophrenia. Examination of this deficit in individuals with schizotypal personality features (SPF) offers an alternative approach to multiple confounds present when examining individuals with schizophrenia. The aim of the current study was to compare the relative sensitivity of performance on measures of olfaction identification and sustained attention to the presence of SPF. Twenty-six undergraduates were defined as having SPF based on scoring in the top 10% of the Abbreviated Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ-B; mean age 19.6, SD = 1.1; 62% female). These individuals were compared to twenty-six controls (scoring lower than half a standard deviation above the mean; mean age 19.8, SD = 1.6; 62% female). All participants were administered the Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD) section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II). In addition, participants were administered the Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT) and a six-minute degraded-stimuli Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Group differences in performance indices of the CPT did not approach statistical significance. Similarly, there were no statistically significant group differences for males or females in performance on the B-SIT. Correlational analyses examined cognitive performance with a dimension score derived by summing quantitative ratings from the SPD items on the SCID-II. The SPD dimension score showed a statistically significant positive correlation with several performance indices of the CPT, including omission errors (rs(52) = .51, p < .001) and commission errors (rs(52) = .38, p < .005). In contrast, the B-SIT scores were not correlated with the SPD dimension score for males or females. Contrary to our hypothesis, results from the current study suggest that olfactory identification deficits may not represent a robust endophenotype consistently found in samples with schizotypal personality features. With regard to sustained attention, our differential findings suggest that schizotypal traits may be more adequately assessed through an interview by trained clinicians who use clinical judgment to determine the presence of phenotypic aspects of SPD (e.g., SCID-II), rather than relying on self-report measures (e.g., SPQ-B). Implications as well as limitations and future directions of these findings are discussed.
M.S.
Department of Psychology
Sciences
Psychology PhD

The current study provides convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity data for a measure of schizotypia from the perspective of the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of general personality structure. Nine schizotypia facet scales were constructed as maladaptive variants of respective facets of the FFM (e.g., Aberrant Ideas as a maladaptive variant of FFM Openness to Ideas). On the basis of data from 143 undergraduates the convergent validity of these nine facet scales was tested with respect to 11 established measures of schizotypia and the respective facets of the FFM. Discriminant validity was tested with respect to other personality disorders and facets from other FFM domains. Incremental validity was tested with respect to the ability of the FFM schizotypia facet scales to account for variance in two established measures of schizotypia, after variance accounted for by respective FFM facets and other established measures of schizotypia were first removed. The findings support the validity of these new facet scales as measures of schizotypia and as maladaptive variants of the FFM.

Borderline and schizotypal personality constructs were compared as predictors of dissociation for 971 nonclinical university undergraduates who completed 11 self-report behavior inventories. Structural equation modeling and multiple regression were used to (a) test the hypothesis that the quantitative interaction of borderline and schizotypal constructs would be the strongest predictor of dissociation and (b) evaluate each construct alone as well as their additive effect for prediction of dissociation. The interaction hypothesis was rejected; the quantitative interaction was only a substantively trifling and statistically nonsignificant predictor of dissociation. In a commonality analysis, the additive borderline and schizotypal effect was equivalent to schizotypy alone and marginally larger than the borderline effect alone for the prediction of dissociation. However, all three effects separately were substantial predictors; thus, dissociation is an untenable discriminator for the borderline and schizotypal constructs. Finally, when schizotypy was compared directly to the borderline construct such that the common variance was distributed dependent upon comparative predictive power (i.e., beta weights), schizotypy was greatly superior to the borderline construct for dissociative predictability. Consequently, reconsideration of the existing paradigm that dissociation is more strongly associated with the borderline construct than with schizotypy is warranted.
Department of Psychological Science

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Apr. 12, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. John Kerns. Includes bibliographical references.

Previous research suggests there are a number of variables that are associated with the expression of schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) symptoms. Such variables include childhood trauma, depression and anxiety, substance use, normal-range personality traits, ethnicity, and gender. However, research to date has not examined all of these variables in a single study to determine how they may be interrelated or differentially related to SPD symptom domains. Of particular interest is the association of these variables as explained by the diathesis-stress model. This study utilized a convenience sample of 298 undergraduate students to examine a continuous range of scores for symptoms of SPD and how the interrelation of biological factors such as gender and ethnicity and psychosocial factors and stressors such as childhood trauma and personality traits, specifically neuroticism and extroversion, influence the expression of SPD symptoms. It was predicted that anxiety, depression, stress, and childhood trauma would positively correlate to SPD symptoms. It was also hypothesized that neuroticism and substance use would positively correlate to schizotypal traits and extroversion would be negatively correlated to schizotypal traits as measured by the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief. It was further hypothesized that psychosocial stressors would be moderated by the aforementioned biological factors.

Individuals diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) exhibit patterns of cognitive deficits in (1) attention (Lees-Roitman, Cornblatt, Bergman, Obuchowski, Mitropoulou, Keefe, Silverman, & Siever, 1997), (2) memory (Bergman, Harvey, Lees-Roitman, Mohs, Margerm, Silverman, & Siever, 1998), (3) executive functioning (Cadenhead, Perry, Shafer, & Braff, 1999), and recently (4) neuromotor functioning (Neumann & Walker, 1999), similar to individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Furthermore, recent research suggests a link between neuromotor and cognitive functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) (Neumann & Walker, 2003). The current study is an extension of research on non-drug-induced neuromotor disturbances in individuals with SPD and examines how such disturbances covary with neurocognitive measures. Approximately thirty-three adults (18-65) were rated for SPD symptoms. Motor assessments included a computerized motor task and finger tapping test. Cognitive assessments included measures of attention, verbal and visual memory, and executive functioning. Consistent with previous research, the SPD group displayed significant right hand (left hemisphere) motor disturbances (i.e., increased force and force variability) compared to healthy controls after excluding all cases reporting a history of head injury. In addition, results indicate significant associations between motor, cognitive, and symptom variables. Consistent with previous research, neuromotor functioning and the relationships between motor and cognitive functioning varied as a function of Time of Day (TOD) of testing. Understanding the relationship between neuromotor and neurocognitive functioning may help elucidate the neural systems that contribute the symptoms characteristic of SSDs.

Meehl�s (1962, 1989, 1990b) schizotypy and Tsuang et al.�s (1999b, 2000a, 2000b) schizotaxia are fundamentally different notions of the schizophrenia precursor. Both represent a categorical precursor but differ in the nature of their relationships to schizophrenia. Specifically, schizotypy is dimensional, unchanging despite the presence or remission of schizophrenia. In contrast, schizotaxia is a transitional precursor; the presence of schizophrenia signals the end of schizotaxia. There are also differences in the way in which risk is determined. Schizotypy is reflected in a variety of information processing and experiential aberrations, is typically assessed using self-report measures, and is best identified using taxometric analyses. In contrast, schizotaxia is characterised by negative symptoms of schizophrenia and neurocognitive impairment, can be assessed using standardised clinical measures, and is diagnosed at the individual case level. The aim of Phase 1 of this study was to investigate the manifest structure of Meehl�s schizotypy in a sample of psychiatric patients. The aims of Phase 2 were to determine if schizotypy group membership was associated with poorer functioning and to determine the nature of the relationship between Meehl�s (1962, 1989, 1990b) schizotypy and Tsuang et al.�s (1999b, 2000a, 2000b) schizotaxia. Participants in Phase 1 were 109 psychiatric patients and all completed a self-report measure of schizotypy, the Thinking and Perceptual Style Questionnaire (TPSQ; Linscott & Knight, 2004). Multivariate taxometric analyses of TPSQ subscales yielded evidence of a manifest group structure within the sample. The prevalence of the latent group, presumed to reflect schizotypy, was estimated to be 32% (SD = 8%), as yielded by MAXCOV analyses. MAXCOV analyses also yielded a mean indicator validity of 1.02; variance of 7; base rate estimates of .08; and a goodness of fit index of .98. MAMBAC analyses yielded a mean base rate of 56% (SD = 18%). Twenty-nine participants from Phase 1 took part in Phase 2. Fourteen were from the schizotypy group (had a p value of .85 or higher of schizotypy group membership) and 15 from the nonschizotypy group (had a p value of .03 or lower of schizotypy group membership). Participants completed tests of attention, verbal memory, and executive functioning. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia were also rated and diagnosis was determined using a diagnostic interview. The schizotypy group was significantly impaired relative to the nonschizotypy group on neuropsychological test scores spanning domains of attention, verbal memory, and executive functioning. A current DSM-IV diagnosis was made for 71% of the schizotypy group and 43% of the nonschizotypy group. Individuals were classified as having met criteria for schizotaxia if they had a negative symptom impairment and a neuropsychological impairment in two domains. A total of 7 people of 29 met criteria for schizotaxia, 6 of these people were from the schizotypy group. There was statistical evidence that Meehl�s (1962, 1989, 1990b) schizotypy and Tsuang et al.�s (1999b, 2000a, 2000b) schizotaxia are not independent. The proposed precursors for schizophrenia may reflect the same construct, not separate entities. Limitations and implications of these results are considered.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Feb. 29, 2008). Directed by Thomas R. Kwapil; submitted to the Dept. of Psychology. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-111).

Psychology
Ph.D.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) are both characterized by inflexible and pervasive behavioral patterns that frequently lead to significant functional impairment. Although considerable research has been conducted on the biological and phenotypic aspects of these disorders, researching, diagnosing, and treating them remains a challenge, primarily due to the difficulties associated with the categorical nature of current diagnostic methods (Skodol and Bender, 2009) which, in turn, results in significant within-group heterogeneity and between-group co-occurrence. Given the relative paucity of research comparing aspects of these disorders with one another, the current study aimed to evaluate overlapping and differentiating aspects of BPD and SPD by examining the integrity of a brain region frequently implicated in both disorders, the cingulum. The current study used a 3T Siemens scanner to acquire structural and diffusion tensor imaging in age-, sex-, and education-matched groups of 28 adults with BPD, 32 adults with SPD, and 36 healthy control participants (HC). The anterior and posterior cingulate were manually traced on all participants and then volume and fractional anisotropy (FA) comparisons were conducted across the groups for the left and right anterior and posterior cingulate. Compared with HC, SPD patients had smaller relative cingulate white matter volume and BPD patients had marginally significantly smaller relative cingulate white matter volume, and the two patient groups did not differ from one another. With regard to FA findings, a spectrum pattern emerged, such that the BPD group had significantly lower FA in the posterior cingulum relative to controls, whereas the SPD group also had lower FA in this region but did not differ from HC. The BPD group had marginally lower FA in dorsal aspects of the anterior cingulum when compared with HC, and the SPD patients did not differ from HC or BPD individuals. In summary, the current study provides evidence of aberrant connectivity of the cingulum in BPD patients, but not SPD patients, compared with HC individuals. Consistent with prior work, overall results suggest potential involvement of cingulum in BPD symptomatology.
Temple University--Theses

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007.
Title from first page of PDF file (viewed November 7, 2007). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Schizotypy as a research framework for schizophrenia emphasizes a link between the symptoms of the disorder and schizotypal traits in the non-clinical population, and argues for a symptom orientated approach to the field. One such symptom area concerns that of unusual experiences, such as hallucinations and delusions that occur in both schizophrenia and in the normal population, but differ in intensity and frequency. Hallucinations and delusions are affected by the environment in which they occur, such as a perceptually ambiguous environment. However, given that both hallucinations and delusions are misinterpretations of the current environment, the content of both could also be influenced by previous experiences, where properties of previous experiences interact with the current environment to produce such experiences. One factor that could influence hallucinations and delusions in this way is time. That is, it could be that those individuals more prone to hallucinations and delusions have stronger temporal links with the properties of previous experiences that facilitate hallucinatory and delusional experiences. The current thesis explores the relationship between the influence of environmental properties on hallucinatory reports and the possibility of differences in timing between individuals scoring high or low in schizotypy through tasks that incorporate temporal elements for optimum performance, such as time based schedules of reinforcement, or measure timing more directly, such as temporal bisection tasks. Findings from the thesis show that high schizotypy scorers make more hallucinatory-like reports than low scorers and that those reports are linked to properties of the environment in which they occur. In addition, there is some evidence that high scorers differ in timing across both schedule and temporal bisection tasks, but only under very specific circumstances.

Individuals diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) exhibit patterns of cognitive deficits, neuromotor disturbances, and behavior problems similar to individuals with schizophrenia, and thus SPD is thought to represent one point on the continuum of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). Deficits in behavior, cognition, and motor functioning have been implicated as childhood precursors of SSDs and appear to also vary as a function of gender and family history of psychopathology. As such, studies of youth may help in further identification of individuals at risk for SSDs. The current study examined the prospective associations between problem behaviors, neuromotor and neurocognitive functioning, as well as SSD symptoms, at baseline and 2-year follow-up in youth meeting criteria for SPD, other personality disorders, or healthy controls. The neuromotor and neurocognitive measures were able to significantly predict SSD symptoms and behavior problems above and beyond baseline predictors. Overall, the findings provide further support for the role of subcortical motor centers operating together with prefrontal cortical areas in the regulation of higher-order cognitive functioning and in producing the psychiatric features of SSDs. Significant correlations between gender, family history of schizophrenia, and history of head injury with symptoms, behavior, cognition, and motor functioning were also found and highlight the importance of examining the effects of these variables in future investigations. In sum, the current study helped in identifying factors that predict the clinical course of schizotypy and may shed light on the disturbed neural circuitry underlying SSDs.

Abstract Maternal depressed mood during pregnancy is common, but studies on the offspring of antenatally depressed mothers, with a long follow-up, are scarce. The aim was to study whether the adult offspring of antenatally depressed mothers are at an elevated risk of psychoses, depression, bipolar disorder, antisocial and borderline personality disorder, and schizotypal and affective traits. Parental severe mental disorder was considered as both a genetic and environmental risk factor for mental disorders. The data are based on the unselected, prospective, population-based Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort of 12,058 live-born children. The data were collected beginning from pregnancy and ending mid-adulthood. The mothers were asked about their mood during pregnancy at the antenatal clinic at 24–28 gestational weeks. Of the mothers, 13.9% rated themselves as depressed (11.8%) or very depressed (2.1%) during pregnancy. Parents’ severe, hospital-treated mental disorders, and the cohort members’ mental disorders were identified mainly by using the Finnish Care Register for Health Care. In this study, the adult offspring of antenatally depressed mothers had an increased risk of depression, and the male offspring for antisocial personality disorder, compared to cohort members without antenatally depressed mothers. The offspring with both maternal antenatal depressed mood and parental severe mental disorder had a markedly elevated risk of schizophrenia and depression, compared to cohort members without one or both of the risk factors. This is the first study where the offspring of antenatally depressed mothers were followed till mid-adulthood, also taking into account parental severe mental disorders. Based on the findings, the prevention of and early intervention in antenatal depression, especially in families with severe mental illness, might present an opportunity to reduce the risk of mental disorders in the offspring
Tiivistelmä Äitien raskausajan masennus on yleistä, mutta pitkiä seurantatutkimuksia raskausaikana masentuneiden äitien lapsista on vähän. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää, onko raskausaikana masentuneiden äitien aikuisilla jälkeläisillä kohonnut riski sairastua skitsofreniaan, masennukseen, kaksisuuntaiseen mielialahäiriöön, epäsosiaaliseen tai epävakaaseen persoonallisuushäiriöön, ja ilmeneekö heillä enemmän skitsotyyppisiä tai affektiivisia piirteitä. Vanhempien vakavien mielenterveydenhäiriöiden katsottiin olevan sekä mahdollisia geneettisiä että ympäristöön liittyviä riskitekijöitä jälkeläisten mielenterveyshäiriöille. Tutkimus perustuu yleisväestöön pohjautuvaan, prospektiiviseen Pohjois-Suomen vuoden 1966 syntymäkohorttiin, johon kuuluu 12 058 elävänä syntynyttä lasta. Kohortin jäseniä on seurattu sikiöajalta keski-ikään, aina 49 ikävuoteen saakka. Äitien raskaudenaikaista mielialaa tiedusteltiin raskausviikoilla 24–28 neuvolassa. 13,9 % äideistä raportoi mielialansa masentuneeksi (11,8 %) tai hyvin masentuneeksi (2.1%) raskausaikana. Vanhempien vakavat mielenterveydenhäiriöt ja kohortin jäsenten mielenterveyshäiriöt selvitettiin pääosin hoitoilmoitusrekisteritiedoista. Tutkimuksessa raskaudenaikana masentuneiden äitien lapsilla havaittiin kohonnut depressioriski sekä kohonnut epäsosiaalisen persoonallisuushäiriön riski miehillä, verrattuna kohortin jäseniin, joiden äitien mieliala ei ollut masentunut raskausaikana. Kohortin jäsenillä, joiden äideillä oli raskausajan masennusta ja toisella vanhemmista vakava mielenterveyshäiriö, oli kohonnut riski sairastua skitsofreniaan ja depressioon, verrattuna heihin, joilla oli vain yksi tai ei kumpaakaan näistä riskitekijöistä. Tämä on ensimmäinen tutkimus, jossa raskausaikana masentuneiden äitien lapsia on seurattu keski-ikään saakka, huomioiden myös vanhempien vakavat mielenterveydenhäiriöt. Tutkimuksen tulosten perusteella äidin raskausajan masennusoireiden varhaisen tunnistamisen ja hoidon voitaisiin ajatella vähentävien jälkeläisten mielenterveysongelmien riskiä, etenkin perheissä, joissa on vakavia mielenterveysongelmia

Personalitat: Estudi del continuum entre salut i esquizofrènia. La recerca del Trastorn Esquizotípic de la Personalitat (TEP) proveeix dades per a una millor comprensió de l’esquizofrènia, ja que permet estudiar les bases psicopatològiques que comparteixen ambdós trastorns sense factors confusos com ara el tractament farmacològic, la institucionalització i la cronicitat de la malaltia. Pel fet que el deteriorament clínic de la malaltia s’iniciï abans de l’emergència de la simptomatologia psicòtica, les estratègies per a modificar el curs de l’esquizofrènia s’han centrat en la identificació tant de factors de risc com de simptomatologia prodròmica que permetin realitzar una intervenció precoç. L’objectiu de la present tesi és el d’aprofundir en la detecció de marcadors de vulnerabilitat a desenvolupar esquizofrènia. En primer lloc, s’ha validat el Qüestionari de Personalitat Esquizotípica (SPQ) per a detectar trets esquizotípics de forma precoç en la població, i en segon lloc, s’ha estudiat el biomarcador ERN per a detectar dèficits en la monitorització de la conducta i la seva reversibilitat amb el fàrmac antagonista dopaminèrgic risperidona. Els resultats mostren, per una banda, unes bones propietats psicomètriques per a l’SPQ (alfa de Cronbach= 0.90 (0.57-0.83)), i el model factorial que millor s’ajusta al constructe és el de 4 factors paranoide, que diferencia els factors: Cognitiu-Perceptiu, Negatiu, Desorganitzat, i Paranoide. D’altra banda, les persones amb TEP varen mostrar una disminució de l’ona ERN en comparació amb el grup control i també un pitjor rendiment en una tasca de temps de reacció amb elecció (Eriksen Flanker Task). Aquests dèficits en la monitorització de la conducta varen ser revertits posteriorment amb l’administració de risperidona en el grup TEP, en que va empitjorar el rendiment del grup control. Aquests fet obeeix al fet que la dopamina regula les funcions cognitives seguint un model d’U invertida, en que els efectes dels fàrmacs dopaminèrgics depenen dels nivells basals de rendiment. Així, mentre que en voluntaris sans l’administració del fàrmac desplaça el rendiment cap a l’esquerra del punt òptim empitjorant-lo, la reducció de la hiperactivació dopaminèrgica en l’esquizotípia millora la monitorització de la conducta.
The Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD) research provides data for a better understanding of schizophrenia, as it allows to study the psychopathological bases that share both disorders without confusing factors such as pharmacological treatment, institutionalization and chronicity of the illness. Due to the fact that the clinical deterioration of the disease starts before the emergence of psychotic symptoms, the strategies to modify the schizophrenia course focused on the identification of risk factors and prodromal symptoms that allows an early intervention. The objective of this thesis is to deepen in the detection of vulnerability markers to develop schizophrenia. First of all, the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) has been validated to detect early-stage schizotyal features in the population, and secondly, ERN biomarker has been studied to detect deficits in behavioral monitoring and its reversibility with the dopaminergic antagonist drug risperidone. The results show, on the one hand, good psychometric properties for the SPQ (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90 (0.57-0.83)), and the factorial model that best fits the construct is the 4-factor paranoid, which differentiates the following factors: Cognitive-Perceptive, Negative, Disorganized, and Paranoid. On the other hand, people with TEP showed a decrease in ERN wave compared to the control group and also a worse performance in a time of reaction with choice (Eriksen Flanker Task). These behavior monitoring deficits were subsequently reversed with the administration of risperidone in the TEP group. Paradoxically, the control group performance worsened with the administration of risperidone. This is due to the fact that dopamine regulates cognitive functions following an inverted-U model, in which the effects of dopaminergic drugs depend on the basal performance levels. Thus, whereas in healthy volunteers the drug administration displaces the performance to the left of the optimum point by worsening it, the reduction of the dopaminergic hyper activation in schizotypy improves the monitoring of the behavior.

Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans une approche dimensionnelle de la psychopathologie et son objectif est d’apporter de nouvelles connaissances au champ de recherche qui considère l’existence d’un continuum entre schizophrénie et trouble bipolaire ainsi qu’entre traits de personnalité et pathologies. Afin d’explorer ces continuums, nous avons étudié, grâce à la méthode des potentiels évoqués cognitifs et l’étude de certaines de leurs composantes (N400, LPC), les processus neurocognitifs sous-tendant l’intégration d’un contexte sémantique et sémantico-émotionnel dans la schizophrénie, le trouble bipolaire, les traits de personnalité schizotypique et les traits de personnalité hypomaniaque. Premièrement, nous avons montré, que les patients schizophrènes stabilisés et les patients bipolaires euthymiques présentent des patterns de modulation de la N400 différents lors de tâches impliquant l’intégration d’un contexte sémantique ou sémantico-émotionnel. Néanmoins, ces résultats en défaveur de l’existence d’un continuum entre schizophrénie et trouble bipolaire pourraient être la conséquence de l’absence de symptomatologie commune entre nos deux échantillons de patients. Deuxièmement, les résultats des études portant sur la population pathologique et ceux des études portant sur la population générale présentant des traits de personnalité semblent en faveur de l’existence d’un continuum entre population générale et pathologie. En effet, les personnes présentant des traits de personnalité hypomaniaque présentent des similitudes dans les atteintes des processus neurocognitifs sous-tendant l’intégration d’un contexte sémantique et sémantico-émotionnel avec les patients bipolaires, et les personnes présentant des traits de personnalité schizotypique présentent des similitudes dans les atteintes des processus neurocognitifs sous-tendant l’intégration d’un contexte sémantico-émotionnel avec les patients schizophrènes. L’ensemble de nos résultats associés à ceux de la littérature semblent en faveur d’une approche dimensionnelle de la psychopathologie bipolaire et schizophrénique où les symptômes, davantage que le diagnostic, doivent être envisagés comme le point central du continuum
This work is part of a dimensional approach of the psychopathology. Its goal is to bring new knowledge to the field of research that considers the existence of a continuum between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as well as between personality traits and pathologies. In order to explore these continuums, we have studied, thanks to event-related potential method and the study of N400 and LPC components, neurocognitive processes involved in the integration of semantic and semantico-emotional context in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizotypal personality traits and hypomanic personality traits. We have first demonstrated that stabilized schizophrenic patients and euthymic bipolar patients have different patterns of the N400 modulation during tasks involving semantic and semantico-emotional integration. However, these results against the existence of a continuum between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder could be due to the lack of common symptoms in both samples. Secondly, the results of our studies dealing with clinical population and those dealing with general population with personality traits seem to be in favor to the existence of a continuum between general population and pathology. As a matter of fact individuals with hypomanic personality traits have similitude with bipolar patients in disturbance in neurocognitive processes involved in the integration of semantic and semantico-emotional context. Furthermore, individuals with schizotypal personality traits have common difficulties with schizophrenic patients in neurocognitive processes involved in semantico-emotional context integration. The results of our investigation, combined with those in the literature, are in favor of a dimensional approach of schizophrenic and bipolar psychopathology. And this approach is more about considering the symptoms as the central point of the continuum rather than the diagnostic

Introducció. Actualment, està àmpliament acceptat que l'esquizofrènia posseeix una etiologia multifactorial i que existeix una complexa interacció entre factors genètics i factors ambientals. Amb l'objectiu de coneixerà quins són els mecanismes etiològics i patofisiològics que determinen el trastorn una part de la investigaci6 s 'ha centrat, en els últims anys, en la detecció de marcadors de vulnerabilitat en subjectes amb risc al trastorn. Aquesta vulnerabilitat, denominada 'esquizotipia', es pot identificar en subjectes clínicament no afectats. Objectiu. L'objectiu d'aquesta investigació s'ha dirigit a intentar contestar a alguns interrogants que encara no tenen resposta. Per exemple, per què alguns familiars, essent portadors del genotip esquizofrènic, no han presentat mai la malaltia?, existeixen formes esquizotípiques de menor risc per a la presentació del trastorn?, poden alguns patrons esquizotípics 'ajudar' a que la vulnerabilitat es mantingui latent i no es manifesti en forma de trastorn? En termes generals, l'estudi s'ha centrat en la identificació de marcadors de vulnerabilitat dels trastorns de l'espectre esquizofrènic en pares no afectats de pacients amb esquizofrènia (subjectes d'edats avançades amb poca probabilitat de presentar el trastorn) comparats amb pares normals de subjectes normals. Metodologia. S' han avaluat 26 parelles de pares no afectats de pacients amb esquizofrènia i 26 parelles de pares normals de subjectes normals (n= 104) en variables de personalitat i comportamentals (esquizotipia psicomètrica -O-LIFE-, trastorns de personalitat -Qüestionari d'avaluació IPDE-, psicopatologia general -SCL-90- i lloc de control -MHLC-) i variables neuropsicològiques (dèficit atencional -CPT-IP-, funció executiva -TMT part B- i memòria i aprenentatge verbal -CVLT-). Resultats. Els pares dels pacients esquizofrènics, comparats amb els controls, mostren significativament puntuacions mes altes al factor d'anhedònia introvertida, al trastorn paranoide de la personalitat i al trastorn per evitació de la personalitat, més característiques de psicopatologia general i un major lloc de control intern relacionat amb la salut. També realitzen mes errors d'omissió en la tasca atencional, presenten una major interferència proactiva al test de memòria i aprenentatge verbal i mostren una tendència a dedicar mes temps a completar la tasca executiva. Els resultats mostren que les associacions entre les variables de personalitat i les neuropsicològiques són de poca magnitud i les diferències entre ambdós grups no segueixen un patró clarament determinat. Conclusions. Els pares dels pacients esquizofrènics presenten més trets esquizotípics negatius que els pares del subjectes normals. L'anhedònia introvertida podria considerar-se com una forma de menor risc a l'esquizofrènia ja que s'evidencia en subjectes (pares) d'edats avançades que ja han superat l'edat de risc i amb poca probabilitat de presentar mai el trastorn. Tanmateix, es confirma que el trastorn paranoide de la personalitat forma part dels trastorns de l'espectre esquizofrènic. Els pares dels pacients atribueixen un major pes i la internalització i al poder dels altres en relació a l'estat de salut, i en general, presenten més característiques psicopatològiques que el grup control. Quant a les variables neuropsicològiques, els pares dels pacients realitzen pitjor la tasca atencional, són més lents en l'anticipació, planificació i flexibilitat de les respostes en el test executiu. Els indicadors de memòria i aprenentatge verbal no discriminen a ambdós grups, i únicament els pares dels pacients presenten una major interferència proactiva. Finalment, el patró de personalitat i el neuropsicològic corresponen a dos fenotips diferents relacionats amb l'esquizofrènia que no es troben íntimament units en subjectes amb aquestes característiques.
Introducción. En la actualidad, está plenamente aceptado que la esquizofrenia posee una etiología multifactorial y que existe una compleja interacción entre factores genéticos y factores ambientales. Con el objetivo de conocer cuales son los mecanismos etiológicos y pato fisiológicos que determinan el trastorno una parte de la investigación se ha centrado, en los últimos años, en la detección de marcadores de vulnerabilidad en sujetos con riesgo al trastorno. Esta vulnerabilidad, denominada 'esquizotipia', puede ser identificada en sujetos clínicamente no afectados. Objetivo. El objetivo de esta investigación se ha dirigido a intentar contestar algunos interrogantes que aun hoy en día no tienen respuestas. Por ejemplo, ¿por qué algunos familiares, aun siendo portadores del genotipo esquizofrénico, no han presentado nunca la enfermedad?, ¿existen formas esquizotipicas de menor riesgo para la presentación del trastorno?, ¿pueden algunos patrones esquizotípicos 'ayudar' a que la vulnerabilidad quede dormida y no se manifieste en forma de trastorno? En términos generales, este estudio se ha centrado en la identificación de marcadores de vulnerabilidad de los trastornos del espectro esquizofrénico en padres no afectados de pacientes con esquizofrenia (sujetos de edades avanzadas con poca probabilidad de presentar el trastorno) comparados con padres normales de sujetos normales. Metodología. Se han evaluado 26 parejas de padres no afectados de pacientes con esquizofrenia y 26 parejas de padres normales de sujetos normales (n=104) en variables de personalidad y comportamentales (esquizotipia psicométrica -O-LIFE-, trastornos de personalidad ¬Cuestionario de evaluación IPDE-, psicopatología general -SCL-90- y locus de control ¬MHLC-) y variables neuropsicológicas (déficit atencional -CPT-IP-, función ejecutiva -TMT parte B- y memoria y aprendizaje verbal -CVLT-). Resultados. Los padres de los pacientes esquizofrénicos, comparados con los controles, muestran significativamente puntuaciones más elevadas en el factor de anhedonia introvertida, en el trastorno paranoide y por evitación de la personalidad, mas características de psicopatología general y un mayor locus de control interno relacionado con la salud. También cometen más errores de omisión en la tarea atencional, presentan una mayor interferencia proactiva en la tarea de memoria y aprendizaje verbal y muestran una tendencia a tardar más en completar la tarea ejecutiva. Los resultados muestran que las asociaciones entre las variables de personalidad y las neuropsicológicas son de poca magnitud y las diferencias entre ambos grupos no siguen un patrón claramente determinado. Conclusiones. Los padres de los pacientes esquizofrénicos presentan más síntomas esquizotípicos negativos que los padres de normales. La anhedonia introvertida podría considerarse como una forma de menor riesgo a la esquizofrenia ya que se evidencia en sujetos (padres) de edades avanzadas que han superado la edad de riesgo y con muy poca probabilidad de presentar ya el trastorno. Asimismo se confirma que el trastorno paranoide forma parte de los trastornos del espectro esquizofrénico. Los padres de los pacientes atribuyen un mayor peso a la internalización y al poder de los otros en relación al estado de salud, y en general presentan más características psicopatológicas que el grupo control. En cuanto a las variables neuropsicológicas, se puede observar que los padres de los pacientes muestran una ejecución más pobre en la tarea atencional, son más lentos en la anticipación, planificación y flexibilidad de las respuestas en la tarea ejecutiva. Los indicadores de memoria y aprendizaje verbal no discriminan a ambos grupos y únicamente los padres de los pacientes muestran una mayor interferencia proactiva. Finalmente, los resultados muestran que el patrón de personalidad y el neuropsicológico son dos fenotipos diferentes relacionados con la esquizofrenia que no se encuentran íntimamente ligados en sujetos de estas características.
It has been widely accepted that schizophrenia has a multifactorial etiology and also that there is a complex interaction between genetic and ambiental factors. In the last years, many research efforts have been focused to detection of vulnerability markers in subjects at risk. This vulnerability is called 'schizotypy' and can be identified in subjects that are clinically non-affected.
Objective. The present study was designed to find answers to questions that are still unresolved. For instance, why some schizophrenic parents who have the schizophrenic genotype have never presented the disease? Are there low risk schizotypic forms to the manifestation of the schizophrenia? Can some schizotypic patterns reduce the vulnerability to a latent status making the schizophrenic disorder not to be manifested? In concrete, the main objective has been the identification of vulnerability markers of the schizophrenic spectrum disorders in non-affected parents of schizophrenic patients compared with normal parents of normal subjects, this is, in subjects who are beyond the age of risk, therefore, they have low probability to manifest the disorder.
Methodology. A total of 104 subjects (26 couples of non-affected parents of schizophrenic patients and 26 couples of normal parents of normal subjects matched for age and intellectual level) has been evaluated on behavioral and personality measures (psychometric schizotypy -O-LIFE-, personality disorders ¬IPDE-, general psychopathology -SCL-90- and locus of control -MHLC-) and on neuropsychological measures (attentional deficit -CPT-IP-, executive function TMT part B- and memory and verbal learning -CVLT -). Results. Parents of schizophrenic patients show significant higher scores in introvertive anhedonia factor, paranoid and avoidant personality disorder, general psychopathological characteristics and higher internal locus of control related to health, when compared with the parents of the control group. Moreover, parents of schizophrenic patients make more omission errors in the attentional task, show a higher proactive interference in the memory and verbal learning test and have a tendency to spend more time in the executive task. Results show that links between personality and neuropsychological characteristics are not relevant and the differences found between both sample groups do not show a clear trend.
Conclusions. Parents of schizophrenic subjects present more negative schizotypic traits than normal parents. Introvertive anhedonia can be considered as a lower risk factor to the schizophrenia manifestation, because it is present in subjects who have low probability to manifest the disorder. The present study confirms that the paranoid disorder can be classified as one of the schizophrenic spectrum disorders. Patients' parents give more importance to internalism locus of control and to power of the others related to health. In general, they present more psychopathological characteristics than the control group. For the neuropsychological variables, it can be observed that parents of schizophrenic patients performed more poorly attentional task, they are slower in the anticipation, planification and flexibility giving the answers to an executive task. Verbal memory and learning markers do not differ between groups. Parents of schizophrenic patients show a higher proactive interference. Results show that the personality and the neuropsychological patterns are two different phenotypes related with the schizophrenia, which have not an important connection in subjects with those characteristics.

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CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Introdução: Há uma alta prevalência de experiências psicóticas na população geral. Muitas dessas experiências possuem fenomenologia semelhante a experiências religiosas/espirituais (R/E), também chamadas de experiências anômalas (EA), as quais não são necessariamente patológicas. Desse modo, é importante encontrar critérios que possam nortear os profissionais da saúde mental para realizarem um diagnóstico diferencial entre uma EA e um transtorno mental (TM). A análise do perfil de personalidade de um indivíduo pode auxiliar a distinguir se esse apresenta experiências saudáveis ou patológicas. Porém, poucos estudos se dedicaram a investigar as relações entre EAs e personalidade. Os Centros Espíritas são locais privilegiados para investigar o tema pois fomentam as EAs e são procurados por pessoas com EAs em busca de auxílio. Objetivos: Verificar se as características de personalidade, mensuradas pelo Inventário de Temperamento e Caráter (ITC), podem se constituir como um critério para o diagnóstico diferencial entre EA e TM. Verificar a associação entre Experiências Incomuns (Esquizotipia) com TM e qualidade de vida (QV); Observar como as diferentes formas de religiosidade se associam aos TMs e à QV. Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico observacional coorte, prospectivo (1 ano de seguimento: T0 e T1), com 115 sujeitos que apresentavam EAs e procuraram Centros Espíritas da cidade de Juiz de Fora/MG. Instrumentos: Entrevista Sociodemográfica; ITC-R (Inventário de Temperamento e Caráter, revisado e reduzido); DUREL - P (Duke University Religious Index – verão em português); WHOQOL - BREF (Instrumento de Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial da Saúde - versão abreviada); SCID (Entrevista clínica estruturada para transtornos do Eixo I do DSM-IV); O – LIFE – R (Inventario Reduzido Oxford-Liverpool de Sentimentos e Experiências). Modelos de regressão logística e linear, controlando para fatores sociodemográficos, foram usados para investigar as associações entre dimensões de personalidade, de esquizotipia e de religiosidade (preditores) com TMs e QV (desfechos). Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 70% de mulheres, com idade média de 38,8 anos (DP 12,5), 55% com nível superior, perfil semelhante ao de outros estudos com médiuns espíritas no Brasil. Houve prevalência atual de 73% de Transtornos de Ansiedade na amostra; 27,8% de Transtorno Depressivo; 10,4% de Transtorno Bipolar e 7% de Transtorno Psicótico. Experiências Incomuns não estiveram associadas a TM ou QV. Anedonia Introvertida esteve associada à presença de Transtorno Psicótico; Não- Conformidade Impulsiva se associou à presença de Transtorno Bipolar; Busca de Novidade e Dependência de Gratificação estiveram associadas à presença de Transtorno Bipolar; Autodirecionamento e Autotranscendência não se associaram à presença de nenhum TM. Nenhuma dimensão de religiosidade esteve associada à presença de TMs. ; Desorganização Cognitiva associou-se a pior QV Psicológica em T0 e T1; Anedonia Introvertida esteve associada a pior QV em todos os domínios (físico, psicológico, social e ambiental) em T0 e a pior QV física em T1. Não-Conformidade Impulsiva se associou a pior QV psicológica. Autodirecionamento se associou a melhor qualidade de vida psicológica e social em T0 e em T1. Evitação de Danos esteve associada a pior QV Física em T0 e em T1. Religiosidade Organizacional e Religiosidade Intrínseca se associaram a melhor QV Social no T0. Conclusões: A mera presença de EAs não se associou à existência de TM ou a alterações na QV. Os resultados desse estudo sugerem que a análise das características de personalidade (temperamento e caráter) de um indivíduo que apresenta EAs pode servir como um critério importante para o diagnóstico diferencial entre uma experiência não patológica e um transtorno mental. Pesquisas futuras poderão buscar teorias e terminologias mais adequadas para explicar as EAs não patológicas e deve-se tomar cuidado para não confundi-las com sintomas de TMs.
Introduction: There is a high prevalence of psychotic experiences in the general population. Many of these experiences have similar phenomenology to religious/spiritual experiences (R/E), also called anomalous experiences (AEs), which are not necessarily pathological. Thus, it is important to find criteria that will guide mental health professionals to perform a differential diagnosis between an AE and a mental disorder (MD). A profile analysis of the personality of a person can help to distinguish whether his/her experiences are healthy or pathological. However, few studies have been developed to investigate the relationships between AEs and personality. Spiritist Centers are prime locations to investigate the issue because they foster AEs and people with AEs often seek help in them. Objectives: To verify whether personality traits, as measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory (ITC), can be a criterion for the differential diagnosis between AEs and MDs. To observe if the dimension of Unusual Experiences (Schizotypy) is associated with MDs or quality of life (QoL). To observe how different forms of religiosity are associated with TMs and QoL. Methods: this is a propective observational cohort study (1 year follow-up) with 115 subjects who had AEs and sought Spiritist Centers in the city of Juiz de Fora/MG. Instruments: Sociodemographic Interview; TCI-R (Temperament and Character Inventory, revised and short); Durel - P (Duke Religious Index - in Portuguese); WHOQOL - BREF (Instrument of Quality of Life of the World Health Organization - abbreviated); SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I disorders of the DSM-IV) O - LIFE - R (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences- short). Logistic and linear regression models, controlling for sociodemographic factors, were used to investigate the associations between personality, dimensions of schizotypy and religiosity (predictors) with TMs and QoL (outcomes). Results: The sample was composed of 70% women, mean age 38,8 years (SD 12,5) 55% with higher education level, profile similar to other studies with spirit mediums in Brazil. There was a current prevalence of 73% of Anxiety Disorders in the sample; 27.8% of Depressive Disorder, 10.4% of Bipolar Disorder and 7% of Psychotic Disorder. Unusual experiences were not associated with QOL or with MDs. Introverted Anhedonia was associated with Psychotic Disorder; Impulsive Non-Conformity was associated with Bipolar Disorder; Novelty Seeking and Reward Dependence were associated with Bipolar Disorder; Self-Directedness and Self-transcendence were not associated with the presence of any MDs. No dimension of religiosity was associated with MD; Cognitive Disorganization was associated with worse QoL in Psychological domain at T0 and T1; Introverted Anhedonia was associated with worse QoL in all domains (physical, psychological, social and environmental) at T0 and with worse QoL in physical domais at T1. Impulsive Non-Conformity was associated with worse QoL in psychological domain. Self-directedness was associated with better quality of life in social and psychological domains, at T0 and T1. Harm avoidance was associated with worse QoL in physical domain. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the analysis of personality traits (temperament and character) of an individual who presents AEs can serve as an important criterion for the differential diagnosis between a not pathological experience and a mental disorder. Future research could investigate about more appropriate terminologies and theories to explain these nonpathological AEs and we must be careful not to confuse them with symptoms of MDs.

Theories embedded within evolutionary neurobiology offer useful frameworks within which to understand cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SCZ). The current research invokes the Dual Trends Theory (DTT), an evolutionary model that posits that neural architecture develops along two separate pathways: the dorsal ‘archicortical’ trend and the ventral ‘paleocortical’ trend. Although various lines of research converge to suggest that SCZ is associated with dorsal trend impairment in the context of relative ventral trend sparing, one persistent inconsistency exists. Specifically, individuals with SCZ routinely show impairment on tasks of action inhibition (AI; the ability to inhibit a pre-planned movement), a function routinely shown to be mediated by the inferior frontal gyrus, a key structure of the ventral trend. Here we argue that conventional tasks of AI conflate AI per se with response conflict (CON) demands, a function shown to be mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex, a key structure of the dorsal trend. We define CON as any aspect of a task that increases the difficulty of deciphering or interpreting the meaning of task stimuli (e.g., greater perceptual similarity between imperative task stimuli). The current research administered novel AI tasks in order to independently examine increases in CON and increases in the prepotency to respond to a pre-planned movement (PREP; considered a more fundamental measure of AI). Consistent with study hypotheses, individuals with Schizoprenia-spectrum disorders (specifically schizotypy) failed to show compensatory response time (RT) slowing when confronted with increasing CON demands yet showed proportional RTs, relative to healthy control participants, as PREP demands increased. These findings were interpreted as reflecting impairment in their ability to detect and/or decipher CON. More broadly, these findings suggest that cognitive abnormalities in SCZ may represent disproportionately impaired dorsal trend circuitry.