Brief assessment of schizotypal traits: A multinational study

Abstract

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 not strong measurement invariance of SPQ-B scores across samples. These findings provide new information about the factor structure of schizotypal personality, and support the validity and utility of the SPQ-B, a brief and easy tool for assessing self-reported schizotypal traits, in cross-national research. Theoretical and clinical implications for diagnostic systems, psychosis models, and cross-national mental health strategies are derived from these results.

Validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale: Associations with schizotypal traits and normal personality.

“…Furthermore, the SPQ-B factors have adequate internal consistency reliability (.72-.78), consistent with the present findings. A recent cross-national study with data from over 28,000 participants supported the reliability and validity of the SPQ-B (Fonseca-Pedrero et al, 2017). Finally, the present findings of the association of the SPQ-B factors with positive and negative schizotypy are consistent with Gross et al's (2014) findings of the association of SPQ factors with the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales positive and negative schizotypy factors.…”

Comparisons of schizotypal traits across 12 countries: Results from the International Consortium for Schizotypy Research

“…This is one of a series of studies by members of the International Consortium for Schizotypy Research (ICSR) (https://srconsortium.org/). Other findings from the sample described here are reported by Fonseca-Pedrero et al (2017a, 2017b.…”

Beyond Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: The Network Structure of Multidimensional Psychosis Liability in Adolescents

“…In fact, schizotypy probably represents the most clearly tractable risk factor for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (13). In its structure, schizotypy is a multidimensional construct, composed basically of three factors (Cognitive-Perceptual, Negative, and Disorganization), which is consistent with the factor structure found in patients with psychosis and CHR samples (14)(15)(16).…”