Elsevier

Schizophrenia Research

Volume 52, Issue 3, 1 December 2001, Pages 241-250
Schizophrenia Research

Factor versus cluster models of schizotypal traits. II: relation to neuropsychological impairment

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-9964(00)00185-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Heterogeneity in cognitive performance in schizophrenia and schizotypy may be accounted for, by differences in predominant symptom presentation. However, studies have not demonstrated consistent relations between specific cognitive impairments and specific trait dimensions in either population. Studies of group differences, particularly those using groups defined by cluster analyses are rare, but suggest that the negative trait dimension is more associated with executive function deficits, positive trait dimension with memory and attentional difficulties, and the disorganized trait dimension with attention problems. The present study examined the relation of schizotypal trait dimensions and executive function deficits in schizotypal individuals using two methods. Correlations between schizotypal factor scores and cognitive measures demonstrated that high negative symptoms were associated with poor performance on the WCST, while high scores on other trait dimensions were related to a better WCST performance. High scores in all trait dimensions were related to the naı̈ve rater's observations of unusual social behavior. A cluster analysis revealed three groups of schizotypals (predominantly negative presentation, predominantly positive symptom presentation, and high on all dimensions). The cluster with predominantly negative symptoms performed worse, than all other schizotypal groups and unselected controls, on the WCST and a higher percentage of them were rated as clinically impaired on the neuropsychological battery. However, schizotypals who were high on all trait dimensions were rated as having the most unusual social behavior by the naı̈ve raters. Overall, results support the hypothesis of a relation between executive function deficits and negative symptoms in schizotypal individuals.

Section snippets

Dimensionality and neuropsychological heterogeneity in schizotypy

Schizotypy has also been proposed to have three trait dimensions (positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and social anxiety/nonconformity), based on results of factor analytic studies of schizotypal measures in normal controls (see Claridge et al., 1996, Venables, 1995, Vollema and van den Bosch, 1995 for detailed reviews). Factor analyses with schizotypal and other clinical samples also support a three-dimensional model, though a paranoid dimension is sometimes also seen (Battaglia et al., 1997

Subjects

There were a total of 59 schizotypal subjects and 49 controls who participated in the present study. Thirty-four of the schizotypals and 19 of the controls were selected and recruited, based on Method 1 described below; 25 schizotypals and 30 controls were recruited based on Method 2. There were no differences between schizotypals and controls recruited by the different methods in demographic variables, schizotypy scores, or executive function measures, justifying the grouping of subjects

Results

All participants were assigned factor scores based on the three schizotypal factors identified in the unselected sample of Study 1 (positive factor, negative factor, and disorganized factor). Using the full sample, there were few significant correlations among the symptom factors and various neuropsychological measures. Negative symptoms were positively correlated with the behavior rating scale (r=0.50, p<0.005) and negatively correlated with WCST categories completed (r=−0.19, p<0.05).

Discussion

Overall, results of both the correlational and group analyses supported the hypothesis that the negative trait dimension of schizotypy is related to executive dysfunction. In the full sample and in the schizotypal sample, high scores on the negative symptom factor were related to lower number of categories completed on the WCST. In the schizotypal group, high scores on the positive symptom factor were related to more categories completed on the WCST, and high scores on the paranoid factor were

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