Validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale: Associations with schizotypal traits and normal personality (original) (raw)
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Validation of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief in Two Large Samples
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 2018
This study reports on an initial examination of the construct validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief (MSS-B) and the first investigation of its psychometric properties outside of its derivation samples. The MSS-B contains 38 items that assess positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy and has comparable content coverage and psychometric properties as the original 77-item Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale. Two large samples (n = 1430 and 1289) completed the MSS-B, as well as measures of schizotypal personality traits and the Five-Factor Model of Personality. MSS-B scores were computed from the full-length scale in sample 1, whereas participants in sample 2 were administered the MSS-B. The psychometric properties and intercorrelations of the MSS-B subscales were consistent with findings from the original derivation samples, with no shrinkage in reliability. In terms of relations with schizotypal traits, the MSS-B positive schizotypy dimension had its strongest association with cognitive-perceptual schizotypal traits, MSS-B negative schizotypy had its strongest association with interpersonal schizotypal traits, and MSS-B disorganized schizotypy had its strongest association with disorganized schizotypal traits. The schizotypy dimensions were characterized by hypothesized patterns of distinct associations with the Five-Factor Model. The present findings are consistent with results from the full-scale MSS.
Schizophrenia Research, 2017
This article reports on the development of a new self-report questionnaire measure of schizotypy-the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS). Schizotypy offers a useful and unifying construct for understanding schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology. Questionnaire measures have been widely used to assess schizotypy and have greatly informed our understanding of the construct. However, available measures suffer from a number of limitations, including lack of a clear conceptual framework, outdated wording, unclear factor structure, and psychometric shortcomings. The MSS is based on current conceptual models and taps positive, negative, and disorganized dimensions of schizotypy. The derivation sample included 6265 participants sampled from four universities and Amazon Mechanical Turk. A separate sample of 1000 participants from these sources was used to examine the psychometric properties of the final subscales. Scale development employed classical test theory, item response theory, and differential item function methods. The positive schizotypy and negative schizotypy subscales contain 26 items each, and the disorganized schizotypy subscale contains 25 items. The psychometric properties were almost identical in the derivation and validation samples. All three subscales demonstrated good to excellent reliability, high item-scale correlations, and good item and test curve characteristics. The MSS appears to provide a promising measure for assessing schizotypy.
Schizotypal Personality Traits: An Extension of Previous Psychometric Investigations
Australian Journal of Psychology, 1998
In an exploratory scale factor analysis of the Combined Schizotypal Traits Questionnaire, Claridge et al. (1996) reported four schizotypal trait dimensions, which they labelled Aberrant Perceptions and Beliefs, Cognitive Disorganisation with Anxiety, Introvertive Anhedonia, and Asocial Behaviour. The present paper reports the findings of a further examination of both scale and item factor analyses, and proposes an alternative five-factor model. Positive and negative schizotypal trait factors emerged separately from general personality factors pertaining to extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism, showing that schizotypal traits cannot simply be reduced to the Eysenckian personality dimensions. The positive schizotypal factor also exhibited strong loadings on measures of delusions, suggesting that delusional cognition is a major component of schizotypal personality. The present five-factor model (supported by LISREL confirmatory factor analyses) may have important implications for future research into and clinical assessment of schizotypal personality traits.
Personality disorders, 2014
Schizotypy is a multidimensional construct that captures the expression of schizophrenic symptoms and impairment from subclinical levels to full-blown psychosis. The present study examined the comparability of the factor structure of 2 leading psychometric measures of schizotypy: the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales (WSS) and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Both the SPQ and WSS purportedly capture the multidimensional structure of schizotypy; however, whether they are measuring comparable factors has not been empirically demonstrated. This study provided support for a 2-factor model with positive and negative factors underlying the WSS; however, contrary to previous findings, the best fit for the SPQ was for a 4-factor model using confirmatory factor analysis, and a 2-factor model using exploratory factor analysis. The WSS factors were relatively distinct, whereas those underlying the SPQ showed high overlap. The WSS positive and SPQ cognitive-perceptual factors appeared...
European Psychiatry, 2008
The present study examined the factor structure underlying the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales and the validity of these dimensions. Confirmatory factor analysis with 6137 nonclinical young adults supported a 2-factor model with positive and negative schizotypy dimensions. As predicted, the schizotypy dimensions were differentially related to psychopathology, personality, and social impairment. Both dimensions were related to schizotypal and paranoid symptoms. Positive schizotypy was uniquely related to psychoticlike experiences, substance abuse, mood disorders, and mental health treatment, whereas negative schizotypy was associated with negative and schizoid symptoms. Both dimensions were associated with poorer overall and social functioning, but negative schizotypy was associated with decreased likelihood of intimate relationships. The findings support the construct validity of a multidimensional model of schizotypy and the use of psychometric inventories to assess these dimensions.
Brief assessment of schizotypal traits: A multinational study
Schizophrenia research, 2017
The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) was developed with the aim of examining variations in healthy trait schizotypy, as well as latent vulnerability to psychotic-spectrum disorders. No previous study has studied the cross-cultural validity of the SPQ-B in a large cross-national sample. The main goal of the present study was to analyze the reliability and the internal structure of SPQ-B scores in a multinational sample of 28,426 participants recruited from 14 countries. The mean age was 22.63years (SD=7.08; range 16-68years), 37.7% (n=10,711) were men. The omega coefficients were high, ranging from 0.86 to 0.92 for the total sample. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that SPQ-B items were grouped either in a theoretical structure of three first-order factors (Cognitive-Perceptual, Interpersonal, and Disorganized) or in a bifactor model (three first-order factors plus a general factor of schizotypal personality). In addition, the results supported configural but ...
A confirmatory factor analysis of the structure of schizotypy
European Journal of Personality, 1995
Recent research into schizotypal traits has been concerned with the number andnature of these personality dimensions. Earlier exploratory factor analytic work using a wide variety of scales (the CSTQ) has generated a four-factor solution but other solutions have been provided by other investigators. This study uses confirmatory factor analysis on a large sample to compare several plausible models of the relationships between scales. These models include a two-factor model separating positive' from 'negative' schizotypal features, a three-factor model including features of cognitive disorganization, and the four-factor model generated previously by exploratory factor analysis. Results offer support for the four-factor solution as the only structure meeting multiple criteria for goodness offit. The relevance of Eysenck's dimensions, and the P scale in particular, to the results i % discussed. Attention is drawn to the possibility that the factors describe predispositions of risk of psychotic disorders beyond that of schizophrenia.
Cognitive-perceptual, Interpersonal, and Disorganized Features of Schizotypal Personality
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 1994
While two factors are currently thought to underlie individual differences in schizotypal personality, three factors may best explain schizotypal traits. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to assess five competing models of schizotypal personality in the general population: null model, one-factor model, simple two-factor model, Kendler twofactor model, and three-factor model. The computer program LISREL was used to analyze Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire subscale scores that reflect the nine traits of schizotypal personality. The scores were obtained from (1) a sample of 822 undergraduates and (2) a replication sample of 102 subjects drawn from the community. Results indicate replicable support for a three-factor model reflecting cognitive-perceptual, interpersonal, and disorganized latent factors. Low intercorrelations between the first two factors and the lack of fit by a one-factor model are partially inconsistent with recent notions that a single vulnerability dimension underlies schizotypal personality. It is argued that future investigations should assess the correlates of all three schizotypal factors in clinical and nonclinical samples in addition to the two more traditional factors. It is hypothesized that three factors of schizophrenic symptomatology observed in recent studies may reflect an exaggeration of three analogous factors found in the general population.
Psychosis, 2013
Schizotypy is a multi-dimensional personality construct that is considered to be a cognitive marker for liability to psychotic disorder. The 22-item brief form of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire is one of the most widely used psychometric measures of schizotypal traits and it has been evidenced to aid in the evaluation of psychosis-proneness. Understanding the underlying latent structure of this measure is therefore both theoretically and clinically important. Using confirmatory factor analysis, data from two UK universities (613 undergraduates) were used to estimate the fit of eight competing factor models of schizotypal personality. The fit statistics supported a three-factor model with correlated "Cognitive-Perceptual," "Interpersonal" and "Disorganised" dimensions. A number of statistical associations were identified between demographic and behavioural variables and each of the schizotypy dimensions. Gender and cannabis use were predictive of variation in the "Disorganised" dimension, while socioeconomic status was predictive of variation in the Interpersonal dimension.
Schizotypal Personality Traits
In an exploratory scale factor analysis of the Combined Schizotypal Traits Questionnaire, Claridge et al. (1996) reported four schizotypal trait dimensions, which they labelled Aberrant Perceptions and Beliefs, Cognitive Disorganisation with Anxiety, Introvertive Anhedonia, and Asocial Behaviour. The present paper reports the findings of a further examination of both scale and item factor analyses, and proposes an alternative five-factor model. Positive and negative schizotypal trait factors emerged separately from general personality factors pertaining to extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism, showing that schizotypal traits cannot simply be reduced to the Eysenckian personality dimensions. The positive schizotypal factor also exhibited strong loadings on measures of delusions, suggesting that delusional cognition is a major component of schizotypal personality. The present five-factor model (supported by LISREL confirmatory factor analyses) may have important implications for future research into and clinical assessment of schizotypal personality traits.