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DeBats CC, Abel DB, Sullivan MM, Koesterer SC, Linton IS, Mickens JL, Russell MT, Hammer LA, Minor KS. Social Activity in Schizotypy: Measuring Frequency and Enjoyment of Social Events. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:474. [PMID: 38920806 PMCID: PMC11201023 DOI: 10.3390/bs14060474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Improving social functioning deficits-a core characteristic of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders-is often listed by patients as a key recovery goal. Evidence suggests that social deficits also extend to people with schizotypy, a group at heightened risk for psychotic and other psychopathological disorders. One challenge of social functioning research in schizotypy is understanding whether social deficits arise from receiving less pleasure from social activities or from participating less in high-pleasure activities. However, limited information exists on what constitutes highly pleasurable, common social activities. In this study, 357 college students rated the frequency and enjoyment of 38 social activities. Our aims were to categorize activities based on their frequency and enjoyment, and whether these correlated with validated social functioning and schizotypy measures. We found that social activities could be characterized based on their frequency and enjoyment and created a frequency-enjoyment matrix that could be useful for future studies. Activities were correlated with social functioning, generally reaching a small effect size level, with increasing frequency and enjoyment showing associations with greater social functioning. Further, negative and disorganized-but not positive-traits were associated with less engagement and pleasure. Although follow-up studies in community samples are needed, our findings have the potential to help researchers and clinicians better understand which activities participants are more likely to engage in and derive pleasure from. The findings may also illustrate the extent to which social deficits may be due to less engagement or less pleasure from social activities, as well as which aspects of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders are associated with these facets of social functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice C. DeBats
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
| | - Danielle B. Abel
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
- West Haven VA Medical Center, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Morgan M. Sullivan
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
- Department of Psychology, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA
| | - Sophia C. Koesterer
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
- Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Imani S. Linton
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
| | - Jessica L. Mickens
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
| | - Madisen T. Russell
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
| | - Lillian A. Hammer
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA;
| | - Kyle S. Minor
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (C.C.D.); (D.B.A.); (M.M.S.); (S.C.K.); (I.S.L.); (J.L.M.); (M.T.R.)
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Angers K, Suhr JA, Moe AM. Executively-mediated language skills are related to performance-based social functioning in the early psychosis spectrum. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 164:184-191. [PMID: 37352814 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Social impairment is a core deficit in psychotic spectrum disorders (PSDs). Prior work shows that language abnormalities can predict psychosis onset and are related to social outcomes in PSDs. Few studies have investigated nuanced relationships between language/verbal abilities and social functioning in the early psychosis spectrum, including at-risk (schizotypy) and first episode of psychosis (FEP) individuals. This study aimed to examine the relationship to between language/verbal performance and performance-based and examiner-rated social functioning. We also aimed to replicate prior models that demonstrate neurocognition is related to social functioning through negative symptoms and social cognition. Low schizotypy (n = 42), high schizotypy (n = 44), and FEP (n = 15) participants completed a battery of language/verbal, social cognition, and social functioning measures. Regression analyses revealed that Proverb Test performance was uniquely and significantly associated with performance-based but not examiner-rated social functioning. Other language/verbal measures were not significantly related to social functioning. In mediational analyses, language/verbal performance was indirectly related to social functioning through negative traits, and also through social cognition. Findings extend support for negative symptom and social cognitive intervention in the early psychosis spectrum, and uniquely suggest that executively-mediated language skills may be an additional target to improve social functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaley Angers
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychology Section, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Julie A Suhr
- Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Aubrey M Moe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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Angers K, Suhr JA, Buelow MT. Cognitive-perceptual and disorganized schizotypal traits are nonlinearly related to atypical semantic content on tasks of semantic fluency. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 136:7-13. [PMID: 33545647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Language deficits emerge early in the course of schizophrenia, yet research findings in those at-risk for schizophrenia, such as those with schizotypy, are mixed. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the relationship of language ability, measured via semantic fluency, to schizotypy, examining both linear and non-linear relations. Semantic fluency data from 295 individuals with varying amounts of schizotypal traits were analyzed utilizing traditional methods (i.e., counting words generated that fit a specific semantic category). The content of semantic fluency responses was also analyzed via a semantic infrequency score (i.e., how infrequent participant responses were relative to all responses generated for the category in the study sample) and a total semantic productivity score (i.e., how many unique words generated overall, including those that did not fit the semantic category). Using traditional methods of scoring, schizotypy was not related to semantic fluency. However, schizotypy was non-linearly related to semantic infrequency and productivity, reflecting atypical semantic activation and processing. In particular, cognitive-perceptual and disorganized, but not interpersonal, traits were related to semantic infrequency and productivity. Valuable content-based information is missed when only analyzing semantic fluency data via the traditional method in the schizophrenia spectrum population. Cognitive-perceptual and disorganized traits, attenuated thought disorder symptoms, evidence the strongest relationship to semantic fluency, further illustrating the link between language and schizophrenia symptoms along the schizophrenia spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaley Angers
- Ohio University, Department of Psychology, Porter Hall, 22 Richland Ave., Athens, OH, 45701, USA.
| | - Julie A Suhr
- Ohio University, Department of Psychology, Porter Hall, 22 Richland Ave., Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Melissa T Buelow
- The Ohio State University Newark, Department of Psychology, 2048 Founders Hall, 1179 University Drive, Newark, OH, 43055, USA
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Minor KS, Hardin KL, Beaudette DM, Waters LC, White AL, Gonzenbach V, Robbins ML. Social functioning in schizotypy: How affect influences social behavior in daily life. J Clin Psychol 2020; 76:2212-2221. [PMID: 32613629 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Social deficits are already exhibited by people at risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Technological advances have made passive detection of social deficits possible at granular levels. METHOD In this real-world study, we tested if schizotypy status (high/low) predicted two types of social behavior: (1) being around other people; and (2) actively socializing with others. We also examined if schizotypy influences relationships between social behavior and affect using subjective and objective instruments. RESULTS Our findings revealed that socializing with others was significantly decreased in the high schizotypy group. Positive affect increased in social situations and predicted later social behavior in those low, but not high, in schizotypy. CONCLUSION Decreased social behavior in schizotypy may be explained, in part, by these individuals being less incentivized than their peers to pursue social situations. Future studies should test this explanation in larger samples exhibiting elevated positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle S Minor
- Department of Psychology, IUPUI School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Kathryn L Hardin
- Department of Psychology, IUPUI School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Danielle M Beaudette
- Department of Psychology, IUPUI School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Lesley C Waters
- Department of Psychology, IUPUI School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Anna L White
- Department of Psychology, IUPUI School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Megan L Robbins
- Department of Psychology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
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Chun CA, Cooper S, Ellman LM. Associations of psychotic-like experiences, related symptoms, and working memory with functioning. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 63:e20. [PMID: 32093801 PMCID: PMC7315866 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the association of spatial working memory and attenuated psychotic-like experiences and related symptoms with social and role functioning. Findings from this study suggest that symptom dimensions and working memory impairment were associated with diminished functioning across a variety of domains. Specifically, negative symptoms and working memory impairment were inversely associated with both social and role functioning, whereas positive and disorganized symptoms showed inverse associations with social functioning only. Symptom dimensions did not moderate cognitive and functional variables, although working memory and attenuated clinical symptoms had an additive effect on functioning. Post-hoc analyses examining symptom dimensions simultaneously showed negative symptoms to be the variable most strongly predictive of overall functioning. These findings suggest that even in a non-clinical sample, sub-threshold psychosis symptoms and cognition may influence people’s social and role functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Chun
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shanna Cooper
- Department of Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Lauren M Ellman
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Rodríguez-Ferreiro J, Aguilera M. Schizotypal personality and semantic functioning: Revisiting category fluency effects in a subclinical sample. Psychiatry Res 2019; 271:365-369. [PMID: 30529320 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Semantic disturbances have been proposed as a possible cause of formal thought disorder in schizophrenia. Fluency tasks, in which volunteers are asked to produce as many exemplars as they can for a given category during one minute, are usually applied to the assessment of semantic processing. However, studies associating fluency and proneness to psychosis have provided conflicting results so it is not clear whether these disturbances can be identified at subclinical stages. We conducted two experiments. In the first one, 71 volunteers completed written category fluency tasks with four semantic categories (animals, fruits, clothing and vehicles). In the second experiment, 77 new participants completed oral category and phonological fluency tasks (words starting with f, t, p and c). In both experiments, we assessed schizotypal personality and vocabulary size. Schizotypal traits were not reliably associated with either productivity or originality of the responses in any experiment. In contrast, vocabulary size significantly predicted the participants' scores in all the tasks. Along with results of other recent studies, our data cast doubt on the reliability of previous observations pointing out an association between schizotypy and lexical-semantic disturbances, at least in relation to productivity and originality in fluency tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Rodríguez-Ferreiro
- Department de Cognició, Desenvolupament i Psicologia de l'Educació, University of Barcelona, Psg de la Vall d'Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Mari Aguilera
- Department de Cognició, Desenvolupament i Psicologia de l'Educació, University of Barcelona, Psg de la Vall d'Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
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