The Development of Positive Symptoms in Young Adults with Schizotypal Traits: A Cognitive Model

Objective: We sought to determine what cognitive mechanisms contribute to the development of positive symptomatology in schizophrenia. We hypothesized that the constellation of schizotypal traits would be a risk factor for the presentation of subsyndromal positive symptomatology. In order for subsyndromal positive symptomatology to be present, however, fantasy proneness and an externalizing bias must also be present and automatic thoughts must be externalized. Method: Undergraduate students (N = 215) completed self-report measures to assess schizotypal traits, externalizing bias, fantasy proneness, and automatic thoughts, with subsyndromal positive symptomatology as the outcome variable. Self-esteem and depressive symptom measures were included as covariates. Results: Schizotypal traits, fantasy proneness, and depressive symptoms were significantly related to subsyndromal positive symptomatology, explaining 39.7% of the variance. Conclusions: An externalizing bias may not be associated with subsyndromal positive symptomatology, possibly because the mechanism underlying positive symptoms differs depending on the severity of the symptoms.M.A.2018-12-01 00:00:0