Examining Subclinical Schizotypy and Basic Symptoms in Relation to Higher Order Cognition
Poster C132, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Elodie Toffel1, Deborah Badoud1,2, Larisa Morosan1,2, Frauke Schultze-Lütter3, Martin Debbané1,2,4; 1Developmental Clinical Psychology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, University of Geneva, Switzerland, 2Office Médico-Pédagogique research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Switzerland, 3University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland, 4Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK
Basic symptoms (BS) are conceptualized as the first psychopathological expression of the underlying pathogenic psychosis process. They touch upon different functioning domains; the cognitive and perceptive basic symptoms (COGDIS and COPER) predict the onset of psychotic disorders. In this study, we wish to examine the relationships, at a subclinical level, between BS and schizotypal traits. Further, we analyse the potential moderating role of higher order cognitive processes (metacognition and mentalization) in moderating the relationship between schizotypy (trait) and BS (state) manifestations. Forty-five subjects aged between 14 and 23 years (M=18.43, SD=1.92) were interviewed using the Child & Youth version of the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument (SPI-CY), specifically targeting COPER and COGDIS basic symptoms. Three self-report measures were administered: Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), Metacognitive Beliefs questionnaire (MCQ), and Reflective Function Questionnaire, brief version (RFQ-B). Preliminary analyses indicated significant relationships between SPQ trait schizotypy and BS. More specifically, self-reported Disorganization (Odd speech) significantly correlated with BS cognitive disturbances (Thought Blockage (r(43)=.361, p=.01), Disturbance of Receptive Speech (r(43)=.321, p=.03), and Visual Perception Disturbance (r(43)=.495, p=.001)). Furthermore, positive metacognitive beliefs significantly correlated with BS (Visual Perception Disturbance (r(42)=-.305, p=.05), and Thought Interference (r(42)=.319, p=.03)). Metacognitive beliefs and Reflective Function self-reports appeared to moderate the relationship of affective-driven schizotypal manifestations to cognitive and visual disturbance BS states. This investigation provides preliminary results underlining the significant relationship between subclinical schizotypal and basic symptom manifestations. Further studies on higher order cognition may contribute to understanding the relationship between trait and state manifestations in subclinical and clinical populations.
Topic Area: Ultra High Risk / Prodromal Research