Does a Latent Class Underlie Schizotypal Personality Disorder? Implications for Schizophrenia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2013
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Despite growing enthusiasm for dimensional models of personality pathology, the taxonic versus dimensional status of schizotypal personality disorder (PD) remains a point of contention in modem psychiatry. The current study aimed to determine empirically the latent structure of schizotypal PD. We examined the latent structure of schizotypal PD in the Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in Great Britain and the second wave of the U.S.-based National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) survey. We analyzed composite indicators created from participant responses using the mean above minus mean below a cut (MAMBAC), Maximum Covariance (MAXCOV), and latent mode factor analysis (L-Mode) taxometric procedures. We also analyzed item-level responses using two latent variable mixture models-latent class analysis and latent class factor analysis. Taxometric and latent variable mixture analyses supported a dimensional, rather than taxonic, structure in both epidemiological samples. The dimensional model better predicted psychosis, intellectual functioning, disability, and treatment seeking than the categorical model based on DSM-IV diagnosis. People meeting criteria for schizotypal PD appear to exist on a spectrum of severity with the rest of the population. The possible dimensionality of schizotypal PD adds to growing support for a dimensional structure of PDs including other Cluster A disorders.
Publication Title
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Volume
122
Issue
2
First Page
475
Last Page
491
Recommended Citation
Ahmed, A. O.,
Green, B. A.,
Goodrum, N. M.,
Doane, N. J.,
Birgenheir, D.,
Buckley, P. F.
(2013). Does a Latent Class Underlie Schizotypal Personality Disorder? Implications for Schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(2), 475-491.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/7768