Multidimensional Factor Structure of Positive Schizotypy (original) (raw)
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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.
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...
Personality disorders, 2018
The present study provided the first examination of the construct validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS) and the first assessment of its psychometric properties outside of its derivation samples. The MSS contains 77 items that assess positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy. A large multisite sample of 1,430 participants completed the MSS and measures of schizotypal personality traits and the five-factor model of personality. The MSS subscales had good-to-excellent internal consistency reliability that showed no shrinkage relative to the MSS derivation samples. The psychometric properties and intercorrelations of the MSS subscales were closely consistent with the derivation findings. The MSS Positive Schizotypy subscale had a strong association with cognitive-perceptual schizotypal traits (large effect), positive associations with personality traits of neuroticism and openness to experience, and negative associations with agreeableness. The MSS Negative Schiz...
Factor structure of schizotypy with normal subjects: a replication of Hewitt and Claridge 1989
Personality and Individual Differences, 1995
The aim of the present study was to replicate the factor structure of the STA, a measure of schizotypal personality, reported by Hewitt and Claridge (Personality and Individual Difjerences, 10, 323-329 1989). Factor analysis was carried out on data collected from 268 normal subjects who completed the STA. A three factor solution yielded results very similar to those reported by Hewitt and Claridge. Factor one was characterized as magical ideation, factor two as unusual perceptual experiences, and factor three as paranoid ideation and suspicion. These data largely confirm the validity of the Hewitt and Claridge (1989) STA subscales.
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.
The Factor Structure of Schizotypal Symptoms in a Clinical Population
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 1996
There is some support for the hypothesis that the factor structure of schizophrenia symptoms is similar to the factor structure of schizotypal symptoms in nonschizophrenia populations. However, no studies to date have examined schizotypal symptoms in patients with personality disorders. In this study, confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the relative fit of several models of the factorial structure of schizotypal symptoms in patients diagnosed with personality disorders. The EQS: Structural Equations Program was used to analyze DSM-III symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) based on structured clinical interviews with 213 patients meeting a diagnosis for at least one personality disorder. A subgroup of the total sample was also evaluated for DSM-III-R criteria (« = 143) to test competing models of the DSM-III-R symptoms of SPD. A three-factor model consisting of a cognitive-perceptual, interpersonal, and paranoid factor yielded the best fit to the data relative to the other models tested. These results suggest that the three-factor model of schizophrenia symptoms may not entirely correspond to the factors underlying milder schizotypal symptoms expressed in a clinical population. It is suggested that future research focus on both the similarities and the differences between SPD and schizophrenia.
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.
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.
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.