Schizotypy and behavioural adjustment and the role of neuroticism

Christoph Voelter; Tilo Strobach; Désirée S. Aichert; Nicola Wöstmann; Anna Costa; Hans-Jürgen Möller; Torsten Schubert; Ulrich Ettinger

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030078

Schizotypy and behavioural adjustment and the role of neuroticism

Christoph Voelter^*, Tilo Strobach, Désirée S. Aichert, Nicola Wöstmann, Anna Costa, Hans-Jürgen Möller, Torsten Schubert, Ulrich Ettinger

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Psychology and Neuroscience

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objective: In the present study the relationship between behavioural adjustment following cognitive conflict and schizotypy was investigated using a Stroop colour naming paradigm. Previous research has found deficits with behavioural adjustment in schizophrenia patients. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that individual differences in schizotypy, a personality trait reflecting the subclinical expression of the schizophrenia phenotype, would be associated with behavioural adjustment. Additionally, we investigated whether such a relationship would be explained by individual differences in neuroticism, a non-specific measure of negative trait emotionality known to be correlated with schizotypy.

Methods: 106 healthy volunteers (mean age: 25.1, 60% females) took part. Post-conflict adjustment was measured in a computer-based version of the Stroop paradigm. Schizotypy was assessed using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Neuroticism using the NEO-FFI.

Results: We found a negative correlation between schizotypy and post-conflict adjustment (r = −.30, p<.01); this relationship remained significant when controlling for effects of neuroticism. Regression analysis revealed that particularly the subscale No Close Friends drove the effect.

Conclusion: Previous findings of deficits in cognitive control in schizophrenia patients were extended to the subclinical personality expression of the schizophrenia phenotype and found to be specific to schizotypal traits over and above the effects of negative emotionality.

Original language	English
Article number	30078
Number of pages	6
Journal	PLoS One
Volume	7
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030078
Publication status	Published - 20 Feb 2012

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title = "Schizotypy and behavioural adjustment and the role of neuroticism",

abstract = "Objective: In the present study the relationship between behavioural adjustment following cognitive conflict and schizotypy was investigated using a Stroop colour naming paradigm. Previous research has found deficits with behavioural adjustment in schizophrenia patients. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that individual differences in schizotypy, a personality trait reflecting the subclinical expression of the schizophrenia phenotype, would be associated with behavioural adjustment. Additionally, we investigated whether such a relationship would be explained by individual differences in neuroticism, a non-specific measure of negative trait emotionality known to be correlated with schizotypy.Methods: 106 healthy volunteers (mean age: 25.1, 60% females) took part. Post-conflict adjustment was measured in a computer-based version of the Stroop paradigm. Schizotypy was assessed using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Neuroticism using the NEO-FFI.Results: We found a negative correlation between schizotypy and post-conflict adjustment (r = −.30, p<.01); this relationship remained significant when controlling for effects of neuroticism. Regression analysis revealed that particularly the subscale No Close Friends drove the effect.Conclusion: Previous findings of deficits in cognitive control in schizophrenia patients were extended to the subclinical personality expression of the schizophrenia phenotype and found to be specific to schizotypal traits over and above the effects of negative emotionality.",

author = "Christoph Voelter and Tilo Strobach and Aichert, {D{\'e}sir{\'e}e S.} and Nicola W{\"o}stmann and Anna Costa and Hans-J{\"u}rgen M{\"o}ller and Torsten Schubert and Ulrich Ettinger",

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AU - Voelter, Christoph

AU - Strobach, Tilo

AU - Aichert, Désirée S.

AU - Wöstmann, Nicola

AU - Costa, Anna

AU - Möller, Hans-Jürgen

AU - Schubert, Torsten

AU - Ettinger, Ulrich

N1 - This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (ET 31/2-1) (http://www.dfg.de/en/index.jsp).

PY - 2012/2/20

Y1 - 2012/2/20

N2 - Objective: In the present study the relationship between behavioural adjustment following cognitive conflict and schizotypy was investigated using a Stroop colour naming paradigm. Previous research has found deficits with behavioural adjustment in schizophrenia patients. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that individual differences in schizotypy, a personality trait reflecting the subclinical expression of the schizophrenia phenotype, would be associated with behavioural adjustment. Additionally, we investigated whether such a relationship would be explained by individual differences in neuroticism, a non-specific measure of negative trait emotionality known to be correlated with schizotypy.Methods: 106 healthy volunteers (mean age: 25.1, 60% females) took part. Post-conflict adjustment was measured in a computer-based version of the Stroop paradigm. Schizotypy was assessed using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Neuroticism using the NEO-FFI.Results: We found a negative correlation between schizotypy and post-conflict adjustment (r = −.30, p<.01); this relationship remained significant when controlling for effects of neuroticism. Regression analysis revealed that particularly the subscale No Close Friends drove the effect.Conclusion: Previous findings of deficits in cognitive control in schizophrenia patients were extended to the subclinical personality expression of the schizophrenia phenotype and found to be specific to schizotypal traits over and above the effects of negative emotionality.

AB - Objective: In the present study the relationship between behavioural adjustment following cognitive conflict and schizotypy was investigated using a Stroop colour naming paradigm. Previous research has found deficits with behavioural adjustment in schizophrenia patients. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that individual differences in schizotypy, a personality trait reflecting the subclinical expression of the schizophrenia phenotype, would be associated with behavioural adjustment. Additionally, we investigated whether such a relationship would be explained by individual differences in neuroticism, a non-specific measure of negative trait emotionality known to be correlated with schizotypy.Methods: 106 healthy volunteers (mean age: 25.1, 60% females) took part. Post-conflict adjustment was measured in a computer-based version of the Stroop paradigm. Schizotypy was assessed using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Neuroticism using the NEO-FFI.Results: We found a negative correlation between schizotypy and post-conflict adjustment (r = −.30, p<.01); this relationship remained significant when controlling for effects of neuroticism. Regression analysis revealed that particularly the subscale No Close Friends drove the effect.Conclusion: Previous findings of deficits in cognitive control in schizophrenia patients were extended to the subclinical personality expression of the schizophrenia phenotype and found to be specific to schizotypal traits over and above the effects of negative emotionality.

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DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0030078

M3 - Article

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 7

JO - PLoS One

JF - PLoS One

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M1 - 30078

ER -

Schizotypy and behavioural adjustment and the role of neuroticism

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