Identifying schizotypal personality disorder using the Rust Inventory of Schizotypal Cognitions (RISC)

Schizotypal Cognitions (RISC) were related to interview derived ratings of DSM-III-R schizotypal personality disorder and other personality disorders in a non-clinical college sample was examined. Moderate correlations between the RISC and schizotypal scores, but not between the RISC and other personality disorders, provided support for the validity and suggested reasonable specificity for the instrument. RISC scores correlated the greatest with schizotypal symptoms that reflect a strong cognitive component (e.g., perceptual illusions) but did not correlate with symptoms associated with social adaptation or interpersonal functioning (e.g., excessive social anxiety). Cutoff scores set at approximately 2 S.D. above the RISC mean best discriminated between non-cases and cases of subthreshold and definite schizotypal personality disorder. Limitations of the RISC and suggestions for future research are discussed.Department of Psychological ScienceThesis (M.A.