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Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire: New sources of validity evidence in college students

Schizotypal traits represent the behavioral expression of vulnerability to psychosis in general population. Among the most widely used measurement instruments, we could find the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) (Raine, 1991). However, some aspects of its psychometric quality have yet to be analyzed. The main goal of the present study was to gather new sources of validity evidence of the SPQ scores in non-clinical young adults. The final sample was made up of 1123 college students (M=20.3 years; S.D.=2.6). The study of the internal structure using exploratory factor analysis revealed that SPQ items were grouped in a theoretical structure of seven second-order factors. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the four-factor model (Paranoid) displayed better goodness-of-fit indices than the other hypothetical dimensional models tested. More complex measurement models, such as those tested using second-order confirmatory factor analyses and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling, also showed adequate goodness-of-fit indices. The reliability of the SPQ scores ranged from 0.80 to 0.91. A total of 11 items showed differential functioning by gender. Advances in psychosis phenotype measurement open up new horizons to understand the structure and content of schizotypy.

Cross-cultural invariance of the factor structure of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire across Spanish and American college students.

The main goal of this study was to examine the cross-cultural invariance of the factor structure of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) (Raine, 1991) in two large samples of Spanish and American young adults. The final sample was made up of 2313 college students (508 men, 22%). Their mean age was 20.5 years (S.D.=3.2). The results indicated that the Stefanis et al. (2004) four-factor model yielded the best goodness-of-fit indices compared to alternative models. Moreover, the results support configural, metric, and partial measurement invariance of the covariances of the SPQ across the two samples. The finding of measurement equivalence across cultures provides essential evidence of construct validity for the schizotypy dimensions and of the cross-cultural validity of SPQ scores. The finding of comparable dimensional structures in cross-cultural samples lends further support to the continuum model of schizotypy and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Future studies should continue to examine the validity of scores on the SPQ and other schizotypy measures and their variation or consistency across cultures.

A meta-review of Internet computer-based psychological treatments for anxiety disorders

Introduction Internet computer-based psychological treatments have enjoyed rapid growth. Today, there are a number of them available for many mental disorders and psychological problems. Internet-based psychological treatments for anxiety disorders and phobias are amongst the most frequently observed. Treatment results with these resources are promising, but inconclusive. Methods This paper reviews 11 systematic reviews and meta-analyses about the efficacy of Internet-based psychological treatments for anxiety disorders, including studies and clinical trials covering the majority of anxiety disorders and phobias, usually with adult patient samples. Results In general, these reviews agree on the efficacy of Internet-based psychological treatment as compared with non-treatment groups (with large effect sizes), finding similar efficacy compared with face-to-face therapies. Internet-based psychological treatments are further improved when combined with some type of therapist contact. On the negative side, some systematic reviews highlight high attrition rates of Internet-based psychological treatments. Discussion These findings remain inconclusive and more refined reviews (involving patient samples, therapy comparisons, type of therapist contact, etc.) are needed, in order to establish the scope and limits of Internet-based psychological treatments for anxiety disorders.

Reasoning and Autobiographical Memory for Personality

Certain problems are ambiguous and allow deductive or inductive conclusions, for example, If you follow this diet then you lose weight. Ann did not lose weight. Why not? Conscientious individuals who are less open to experience should focus on possibilities consistent with the premises, and make a deduction: Ann did not follow this diet. But, those who are open to experience and not conscientious should go beyond these possibilities, and make an induction, for example, Ann gave up exercising. In an experiment, a group who recalled autobiographical episodes in which they were conscientious and not open to experience made more deductions than a group who recalled episodes in which they had the opposite characteristics. A control group made about equal proportions of deductions and inductions. These results were predicted by the theory that reasoners envisage possibilities, and can focus on those possibilities consistent with the premises or on possibilities outside the premises.

Well-Being Among Spanish Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adults: Disclosure of Sexual Orientation to Family and Friends

ABSTRACT Relevance of disclosure of minority sexual orientation on subjective (SWB) and psychological well-being (PWB) was analyzed. Participants were 236 men and 238 women self-identified as lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) or heterosexual. No differences in SWB were found between heterosexuals and LGBs. Heterosexual women showed greater environmental mastery than bisexual men and greater purpose in life than lesbian and bisexual women. Outcomes showed greater well-being among LGBs who disclosed their minority sexual orientation to parents later in life. Disclosing minority sexual orientation to parents was related with greater PWB. Further research that takes a differential approach to improve well-being for LGBs is needed.

Anxiety and Depression in Drug-Dependent Patients with Cluster C Personality Disorders

Objective Comorbidity between personality disorders (PD) and substance-use disorders (SUD) is one of the most common findings in the psychiatric field. The patients with Cluster C disorders present maladjustment traits often characterized by high levels of anxiety. The main aim of this study was to find evidences about higher anxiety and depression prevalence on Cluster C than others Clusters, analyzing similarities and differences within, with other Cluster A and B PD patients and patients without PD. Method A total of 822 substance dependent patients (ages18–78; Mean = 38.35, SD = 10.14) completed the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II disorders, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results Results supported poly-consumption in Cluster C patients, being greater alcohol consumption as well as abuse of both stimulants and depressants. Anxiety and depression did not show just one pattern for all patients with SUD-Cluster C PD. There was a relation between anxiety and depression for all the groups except for the Dependent-PD. Conclusion Interventions should focus on aspects like depression and anxiety more than on the substance consumed.

Personal and social factors involved in internet addiction among adolescents: A meta-analysis

Abstract Background and Aims The growing popularity and frequency of Internet use has resulted in a large number of studies reporting various clinical problems associated with its abuse. The main purpose of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis of the association between Internet addiction (IA) and a number of personal and social psychological factors in adolescents. Methods The search included cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies which analyzed the relationship between IA and at least one of the following personal variables: (i) psychopathology, (ii) personality features and (iii) social difficulties, as well as (iv) self-esteem, (v) social skills and (vi) positive family functioning. These variables were classified as protective and promoting factors of the risk of developing IA. Results A total of 28 studies with adequate methodological quality were identified in the primary medical, health and psychological literature databases up to November 2017. Of the 48,090 students included in the analysis, 6548 (13.62%) were identified as excessive Internet users. The results highlight that risk factors had a greater effect on IA than protective factors. Also, personal factors showed a greater link with IA than social factors. Conclusions The data provide relevant information for those developing programs for the prevention of IA and the enhancement of protective factors.

El Papel de la Personalidad y la Inteligencia en la Autoeficacia Interpersonal

espanolSe analizan las caracteristicas de temperamento, inteligencia y trastornos de personalidad de 320 mujeres y 114 hombres universitarios segun su autoeficacia interpersonal. Los participantes cumplimentaron el inventario de personalidad NEO-PI-R, el cuestionario de trastornos de personalidad IPDE, el cuestionario de autoevaluacion de inteligencias multiples CAIM, y los tests de factor g y de aptitudes mentales primarias PMA. Las mujeres con alta autoeficacia interpersonal puntuaron mas alto en capacidad espacial, extraversion, apertura y responsabilidad, y mas bajo en neuroticismo y trastornos de personalidad que las mujeres con baja autoeficacia. Los hombres del grupo alto puntuaron mas alto en temperamento y mas bajo en los trastornos paranoide y dependiente que los hombres del grupo bajo. Aparecieron diferencias intersexo en inteligencia en el grupo de alta autoeficacia, y en temperamento en el grupo de baja autoeficacia. Se sugiere considerar el temperamento, la inteligencia y el sexo para evaluar y promover la inteligencia interpersonal. EnglishThis study analyses temperament, intelligence, and personality disorders shown by 320 women and 114 men undergraduates depending on interpersonal self-efficacy as high or low. All of them fulfilled the Personality Inventory NEO-PI-R, the Questionnaire of Personality Disorders IPDE, the Questionnaire of Self-Assessment of Multiple Intelligences CAIM, g-factor Test, and the Primary Mental Abilities Test. Women who assessed their interpersonal intelligence as high, scored higher in spatial ability, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness, and lower in neuroticism and personality disorders against those wom en who assessed their interpersonal intelligence as low. However, those men with high interpersonal self-efficacy showed higher scores on temperament and lower scores in paranoid and dependent disorders than men with low self-efficacy. There were gender d ifferences in intelligence for the higher group in interpersonal intelligence, and in temperament for the lower group. Considering gender and personality factors in assessment and promotion of interpersonal intelligence is suggested.

Verbal Emotional Disclosure of Traumatic Experiences in Adolescents: The Role of Social Risk Factors

It is well-known that traumatic events and adverse life situations are very important in both physical and psychological health. Prevalence studies suggested that adolescents experience at least one potentially traumatic event before reaching age 18. The paradigm of research centered on expressive writing has evidenced the beneficial effects that the emotional disclosure of previous traumas produces on physical health and psychological adjustment. The aims of the study are threefold: determining the prevalence of adverse or traumatic events; examining the extent to which psychopathological symptoms developed in those exposed to traumatic events; and exploring an verbal emotional disclosure (VED) paradigm in which variations on time spent talking about traumatic experiences to others resulted in a reduction of the psychological impact of trauma in a sample of Spanish adolescents. 422 volunteer adolescents participated, 226 boys and 192 girls, from 10 to 19 years old, all of them living in Tenerife. The mean age was 14.8 years (SD = 1.83). All of them completed the instruments used to assess the psychological impact of traumatic experiences and VED. The main results indicated that 77% of the participants had suffered a traumatic situation. The participants who have been exposed to traumatic events scored significantly higher in measures of post-traumatic stress, disorder, intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, anxiety and depression, compared to those without trauma. Furthermore, results show a decrease in symptomatology scores as a function of time spent disclosing emotional experiences to others, particularly when disclosure occurred several times. In conclusion, stressful events or traumatic experiences and their concomitant emotional effects are highly prevalent in adolescents, and repeated VED to others appears to ameliorate their impact. VED shows greater therapeutic benefits when adolescents narrate the experience on several occasions and in an extensive way.

Anxiety and Depression in Drug-dependents Patients with Cluster C Personality Disorders

Introduction Substance-dependent patients(SDP) have more personality disorders(PD) than general population; and they present more frequent and severe levels of depression and anxiety. Objectives To study cluster C personality disorders in SDP. Methods We included a clinical sample of 822(621 males) SDP according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria seeking treatment in the Outpatient Drug Clinic Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. The assessment process consisted of three interview sessions conducted by trained psychiatrists and psychologists using SCID I and II, BDI, STAI-R/S. Exclusion criteria were:intoxication at baseline examination, severe somatic disease at baseline examination and low language proficiency. Results 39.2% of the sample presented at least one PD and 9.55% presented a cluster C PD. Of them the found prevalence were Avoidant(44.9%), Dependt(11.5%), Obssessive-compulsive(37.2%), comorbidity (6.4%). The addiction prevalences that Cluster C PD patients show were: dependent of alcohol 9.4%, benzodiazepines 18.5%, opioids 6.1%, cocaine 9.7 and cannabis 12.3%. 70.5% of the PD cluster C group were men, however differences according to the cluster C PD were found, being higher the proportion of men in Obsessive-compulsive PD (85.7%) and fewer in Dependent PD patients (33.7%)(χ2 =12.19, p = .007). Cluster C PD patients presented more depressive symptoms and showed higher scores in anxiety-trait than patient with Cluster A or B PD, being this difference statistically significant. Conclusion There is a high rate of cluster C personality disorders among addicted patients. Higher levels of anxiety depression are detected in these patients. Clinicians should be check systematically this symptoms and traits in addicted patients.