engleski

Personality traits in genetically distinct groups of schizophrenia patients and their relatives

Background Two homogeneous schizophrenia subtypes, each featuring a specific configuration of neurocognitive performance, neurobehavioral anomalies and selected personality measures, were identified in our previous study (Hallmayer et al., 2005). The first, “ Cognitive Deficit” (CD) type, comprising patients and a small number of unaffected relatives (n = 76), displayed pervasive deficit on almost all neurocognitive measures. Family members assigned to the remaining types (n = 312) were close to controls on neurocognitive measures but showed significantly deviant scores on temperament and character scales and three dimensions of schizotypy, and were pooled into Non-CD type. Methods Using canonical correlation analysis we examined whether specific profiles of personality, assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (Cloninger et al., 1993) were related to schizotypal dimensions, assessed by the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (Raine 1991). Once the relationship was confirmed, we examined its invariance across both groups. Results Simple mean scores on personality scales and schizotypy factors were generally uninformative, with siblings of schizophrenia patients having virtually identical scores on almost all scales as their parents. However, distinct associations between structure of personality traits (temperament and character) and schizotypal factors emerged in the two schizophrenia subtypes. Conclusion A simple clinical, primarily negative, symptomatology in CD patients is probably due to reduced cognitive efficiency, whereas dysfunctional cognitive control could be responsible for more prominent positive symptoms in Non-CD patients and their clinically unaffected first degree relatives. This is consistent with Kraepelin’ s observations that prominent signs of schizophrenia include a lessened ability to produce ideas and concepts and diminished capacity to sift, arrange and correct the existing ones.

schizophrenia; schizotypy; temperament and character

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