Well-Being in Schizotypy: the Effect of Subclinical Psychotic Experiences
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Psicothema 2018, Vol. 30, No. 2, 177-182 ISSN 0214 - 9915 CODEN PSOTEG Copyright © 2018 Psicothema doi: 10.7334/psicothema2017.100 www.psicothema.com Well-being in schizotypy: The effect of subclinical psychotic experiences Ascensión Fumero1, Rosario J. Marrero1 and Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero2 1 Universidad de La Laguna and 2 Universidad de La Rioja Abstract Resumen Background: Schizotypy is a multidimensional construct that includes Bienestar en esquizotipia: efecto de las experiencias psicóticas atenuadas. positive, negative, and disorganized dimensions. The healthy schizotypal Antecedentes: la esquizotipia es un constructo multidimensional que model suggests that positive schizotypal features could be associated incluye las dimensiones positiva, negativa y de desorganización cognitiva. with better psychological functioning. The aim of this study was to El modelo de esquizotipia saludable sugiere que los rasgos esquizotípicos analyze whether schizotypal features are associated with subjective and positivos podrían estar asociados con un mejor funcionamiento psychological well-being, and consider whether psychotic-like experiences psicológico. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar si los rasgos affect well-being. Method: These relationships were investigated in two esquizotípicos se asociaban con el bienestar subjetivo y psicológico, y si hundred non-clinical Spanish adults (mean age = 34.80, S.D. = 14.20). las experiencias psicóticas atenuadas afectaban al bienestar. Método: en Results: Negative schizotypal features were associated with lower well- el estudio participaron 200 adultos españoles (edad media = 34.80, S.D. being, whereas positive schizotypal features were related with greater = 14.20). Resultados: los rasgos esquizotípicos negativos se asociaron well-being. Individuals with subclinical psychotic experiences scored con bajo bienestar y los positivos con mayor bienestar. Los individuos lower for psychological well-being than individuals without these con experiencias psicóticas atenuadas obtuvieron puntuaciones más experiences. Conclusions: The study suggests that some positive features bajas en bienestar psicológico que las personas sin estas experiencias. may be benefi cial for well-being while others are associated with lower Conclusiones: el estudio sugiere que ciertos rasgos positivos de la well-being. esquizotipia pueden ser benefi ciosos para el bienestar, mientras que otros Keywords: Schizotypy, subjective well-being, psychological well-being, pueden perjudicarlo. subclinical psychotic experiences. Palabras clave: esquizotipia, bienestar subjetivo, bienestar psicológico, experiencias psicóticas atenuadas. Schizotypy is a trait that is continuously distributed throughout individuals unaffected by schizophrenia could act as premorbid the population; it can describe normal functioning, signal risk status indicators of vulnerability to this or related diseases (Barrantes- for disorder, and, at the upper extreme, even indicate vulnerability Vidal et al., 2013; Brett, Peters, & McGuire, 2015; Fonseca- to schizophrenia (Barrantes-Vidal, Grant, & Kwapil, 2015). The Pedrero & Debbané, 2017; Simon, Umbricht, Lang, & Borgwardt, study of the underlying latent structure of schizotypy reveals that it 2014) and are associated with a lower level of perceived well-being is a multidimensional construct that includes: a positive dimension (Freeman et al., 2014; Langer et al., 2015). Clinical and non-clinical characterized by perceptual distortions, such as unusual perceptual groups show a distinctive pattern of similarities and differences experiences; a negative dimension characterized by interpersonal in psychotic experiences, suggesting that some types of psychotic defi cits, such as introvertive anhedonia; and a disorganized experiences are more benign than others (Peters et al., 2016; Ruiz, dimension characterized by manifestations of distorted thinking, Gutiérrez-Zotes, Oyarzábal, Pàmies, & Alquézar, 2010). Thus, such as odd speech and disrupted thoughts (Fonseca-Pedrero et the sentence about mind-reading (‘have you ever felt that you are al., 2014). The benign schizotypy model suggests that a healthy communicating with another person telepathically?’) has been schizotypy profi le is defi ned as the presence of positive schizotypal linked to greater risk of transition to psychosis among clinical features and the absence of negative and disorganized features high-risk patients (Salokangas et al., 2013). In a non-clinical (Mohr & Claridge, 2015). sample, the two lowest rates of endorsement were for sentences Previous research has demonstrated that some subclinical forms from the unusual perceptual experiences subscale (‘I often hear a of psychotic experiences (SPE), such as perceptual distortions, in voice speaking my thoughts aloud’ and ‘have you ever seen things invisible to other people?) (Rossi & Daneluzzo, 2002). Well-being is of great relevance for the prevention of mental Received: March 14, 2017 • Accepted: February 2, 2018 illness. Two approaches to the study of well-being have been Corresponding author: Ascensión Fumero identifi ed: one considers subjective well-being (SWB) and the Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud-Sección Psicología other focuses on psychological well-being (PWB). Subjective Universidad de La Laguna 38200 La Laguna (Spain) pursuits are more related to carefreeness and positive emotions, e-mail: [email protected] while psychological pursuits are related to meaning and the 177 Ascensión Fumero, Rosario J. Marrero and Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero actualization of human potential (Ryff & Singer, 2006). There is thoughts aloud”); another about visual perceptual distortion (item some consensus about the association between negative schizotypal 40: “Have you ever seen things that are invisible to other people?”); features and deteriorated SWB in the form of lower life satisfaction and a fi nal item about mind control and communication attempts and greater negative affect (Abbott & Byrne, 2012; Weintraub & (item 55: “Have you ever felt that you are communicating with Weisman de Mamani, 2015). On the other hand, several studies another person telepathically (by mind-reading)?”). The criterion have found a positive link between some positive schizotypal for inclusion in the SPE group was answering ‘yes’ to at least one signs and adaptive functioning or SWB (Tuchman & Weisman de of these items. Mamani, 2013). Magical thinking and strange ideas of reference, Ry f f ’s PW B sca les, wit h 8 4 it em s, wer e use d to a ssess psycholog ica l such as having the feeling of being noticed or otherwise, have been well-being (Ryff, 1989). The items were answered using a Likert-type found be signifi cantly and positively associated with SWB (Abbott scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). The & Byrne, 2012; Unterrainer, Lewis, & Fink, 2014). Research questionnaire assessed six well-being indicators: self-acceptance, in large epidemiological cohorts with longitudinal follow-up positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, has shown that perceptual distortions, which are not associated purpose in life, and personal growth. Stability coeffi cients of .80 or with delusional formation and/or affective dysregulation and higher have been found after one month for all six PWB scales (Ryff, motivational impairment, have a lower likelihood for a clinical 1989). The Spanish version has shown an acceptable Cronbach’s outcome (Downs, Cullen, Barragan, & Laurens, 2013). alpha ranging from .74 to .86 (Marrero & Carballeira, 2012). Little is known about the role of schizotypal traits as protective The Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) factors against developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders. comprises a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (no happiness at all) The study of schizotypy should allow for the identifi cation of to 7 (totally happy). An acceptable Cronbach’s alpha between .60 individuals who have a healthy personality as measured by their and .65 has been found for the Spanish sample (Vázquez, Duque, levels of adjustment and well-being. The purpose of this study was & Hervás, 2013). to identify the positive and negative features that promote SWB The Satisfaction with Life Scale or SWLS (Diener, Emmons, and PWB in a non-clinical population. First, it was hypothesized Larsen, & Griffi n, 1985) was used as a cognitive measure of whole that women and younger adults would obtain higher scores in the life satisfaction. A total of 5 items were answered using a Likert- cognitive-perceptual schizotypal dimension, while men and older type scale ranging from 1 (not satisfi ed at all) to 7 (very satisfi ed). individuals would achieve higher scores in the negative dimension The Cronbach’s alpha for the Spanish population was between .82 (Scott et al., 2008). Second, it was hypothesized that positive and .88 (Vázquez et al., 2013). schizotypal features – ideas of reference and magical thinking – The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule or PANAS (Watson, would be positive predictors of greater SWB and PWB, whereas Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) assessed affect by means of 20 positive negative and disorganized schizotypal features would be positive and negative adjectives referring to the present, using a Likert- predictors of deteriorated well-being (Abbott & Byrne, 2012; type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Weintraub & Weisman de Mamani, 2015; Tuchman & Weisman In the original validation study, both the positive and negative de Mamani, 2013; Unterrainer et