Citation

Raine A, Wong KKY, Liu J. Schizophr. Bull. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/schbul/sbaa100

PMID

32674122

Abstract

There is a relative dearth of research on features of schizotypal personality in children, in part due to lack of instrumentation. This study tests 5 competing models of the factor structure of the self-report Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire for Children (SPQ-C) and examines its relationship with a family history of schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), child abuse, and stability over time. Hypotheses were tested on 454 11- to 12-year-old schoolchildren and their caregivers. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a 3-factor structure of the SPQ-C (cognitive-perceptual, interpersonal, and disorganized). Test-retest stability was relatively robust over 3 months (r =.67), 6 months (r =.64), and 12 months (r =.55), with acceptable internal reliabilities (r =.84 to.91). Regarding construct validity, children with a biological family history of SPD had higher scores on all 3 factors (d =.51). Abused children had higher schizotypy scores (d =.55). A genetic × environment interaction was observed, with schizotypy highest in those with both a family history of schizotypy and also child abuse.

FINDINGS are the first in the child schizotypy field to document a gene × environment interaction and the independence of child abuse from confounding genetic influences.

RESULTS support the utility of the SPQ-C in future family and clinical studies of schizotypal personality and provide an avenue for much-needed and neglected research into the early antecedents of child schizotypal personality.

Language: en

Keywords

children; abuse; cognitive-perceptual; disorganized; family history; interpersonal; schizotypy