Schizotypal traits and psychotic-like experiences during adolescence: An update

BACKGROUND: The psychosis phenotype is distributed along a severity continuum that ranges from psychological well-being to full-blown psychosis. Schizotypal traits and psychotic-like experiences are considered as one of the possible phenotypic indicators of the latent liability for psychosis (named schizotypy). This selective review offers a general overview and update of trait schizotypy and psychotic like experiences during adolescence. METHOD: The previous literature on schizotypal traits  and psychotic like experiences is selectively reviewed. RESULTS: We begin with a brief introduction of psychosis syndrome from an extended psychosis phenotype framework as well as a brief definition of trait schizotypy and psychotic-like experiences. We introduce the study of these traits and experiences from a developmental perspective, where the psychosis proneness-persistence-impairment model is highlighted. We provide a selective review of the tools available for assessment these constructs from the psychometric high-risk paradigm. We then discuss the factorial validity of the studies conducted in adolescents. In addition, the links between this set of subclinical traits and experiences and other variables gathered from a translational approach are discussed, with the aim to establish a nomological network. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude by considering remaining questions and future directions for the understanding of trait schizotypy and psychotic-like experiences during adolescence

Beyond Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: The Network Structure of Multidimensional Psychosis Liability in Adolescents

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the present study was to analyze the network structure of schizotypy dimensions in a representative sample of adolescents from the general population. Moreover, the network structure between schizotypy, mental health difficulties, subjective well-being, bipolar-like experiences, suicide ideation and behavior, psychotic-like experiences, positive and negative affect, prosocial behavior, and IQ was analyzed. METHOD: The study was conducted in a sample of 1,506 students selected by stratified random cluster sampling. The Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire, the Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children, the Paykel Suicide Scale, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children Shortened Version, and the Matrix Reasoning Test were used. RESULTS: The estimated schizotypy network was interconnected. The most central nodes in terms of standardized Expected Influence (EI) were 'unusual perceptual experiences' and 'paranoid ideation'. Predictability ranged from 8.7% ('physical anhedonia') to 52.7% ('unusual perceptual experiences'). The average predictability was 36.27%, implying that substantial variability remained unexplained. For the multidimensional psychosis liability network predictability values ranged from 9% (estimated IQ) to 74.90% ('psychotic-like experiences'). The average predictability was 43.46%. The results of the stability and accuracy analysis indicated that all networks were accurately estimated. CONCLUSIONS: The present paper points to the value of conceptualizing psychosis liability as a dynamic complex system of interacting cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and affective characteristics. In addition, provide new insights into the nature of the relationships between schizotypy, as index of psychosis liability, and the role played by risk and protective factors.Swiss National Science Foundation (100019_159440)Europa FEDER La Rioja 2014-2020 (SRS 6FRSABC026

Evaluación adaptativa informatizada del clima organizacional

Computerized Adaptive Tests (CAT) constitutes a major advance in the field of the assessment of social sciences and health. It is interesting to incorporate this methodological development to organizational field. The objective of this research is to develop a CAT for evaluating the organizational climate. In order to do this, a bank of 160 items was constructed, which was administered to a sample of 3,163 workers (M age= 51.90 years; SD= 6.28 years). The results show that the CAT works efficiently for the three item banks used (150, 130 and 50 items). The information function shows that the latent trait in the whole range of values is measured with similar accuracy. The correlation between the scores obtained with the CAT, the three item banks and the CLIOR scale of organizational climate was higher than 0.90 in all cases (SE<0.32). With a SE< 0.32, the 150 item CAT uses a mean of 22.5 items (SD = 22.5 items). The CAT developed allows an accuracy and useful assessment of the organizational climate on organizational settings and research.Los Tests Adaptativos Informatizados (CAT) constituyen un gran avance en el campo de la evaluación de las ciencias sociales y de la salud. Es interesante incorporar este desarrollo metodológico al campo de la psicología organizacional. El objetivo de esta investigación es desarrollar un CAT para evaluar el clima organizacional. Para ello, se construyó un banco de 160 ítems, que se administró a una muestra de 3163 trabajadores (M = 51,90 años; SD = 6,28 años). Los resultados muestran que el CAT funciona de manera eficiente para los tres bancos de ítems utilizados (150, 130 y 50 artículos). La función de la información muestra que el rasgo latente se mide con una precisión similar en todo el rango de valores. La correlación entre las puntuaciones obtenidas con el CAT, los tres bancos de ítems y la escala CLIOR de clima organizacional fue superior a 0,90 en todos los casos (SE <0,32). Con una precisión fiajada en SE <0,32, el  CAT de 150 ítems utiliza una media de 22,5 ítems (SD = 22,5). El CAT desarrollado permite una evaluación útil y precisa del clima organizacional en contextos organizacionales

Parental support and gender moderate the relationship between sexual orientation and suicidal behavior in adolescents

la investigación indica que las personas pertenecientes a minorías sexuales tienen un mayor riesgo de sufrir problemas de salud mental. Además, el apoyo parental podría desempeñar un papel protector. El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar, en una muestra representativa de adolescentes, si la orientación sexual estaba relacionada con un mayor riesgo de sufrir problemas de salud mental. Se analizó el posible efecto moderador del apoyo parental en la relación entre la orientación sexual y la salud mental, moderado también por el género de los participantes. Método: participaron 1790 estudiantes de secundaria. Se evaluaron indicadores de dificultades emocionales y conductuales, depresión, experiencias psicóticas, conducta suicida, bienestar y autoestima. Resultados: se encontraron efectos principales significativos de género y orientación sexual. Tener una orientación sexual diversa (es decir, lesbiana/ gay, bisexual y questioning) estaba relacionado con mayores dificultades de salud mental. Además, se encontró una interacción significativa del género y la orientación sexual en la conducta suicida. Por último, el apoyo parental y el género moderaron la relación entre la orientación sexual y la conducta suicida. Conclusiones: estos resultados ponen de manifiesto la importancia de promover la salud mental y el bienestar de los jóvenes pertenecientes a minorías sexuales.The scientific literature indicates that people from sexual minorities may be at increased risk for mental health difficulties. Moreover, parental support could play a protective role against poor mental health. The objective of this study was to examine whether a persons sexual orientation was related to a greater risk of mental health problems in a representative sample of adolescents. In addition, the study analyzed the possible moderating effect of parental support in the relationship between sexual orientation and mental health, as also moderated by participant gender. Method: The sample consisted of 1790 secondary-school students. Indicators of emotional and behavioral difficulties, symptoms of depression, psychotic-like experiences, suicidal behavior, well-being, and self-esteem were assessed. Results: The results indicated significant main effects of gender and sexual orientation. Having a diverse sexual orientation (i.e., lesbian/gay, bisexual and questioning) was related to increased risk of mental health difficulties. Moreover, the results showed a significant interaction effect of gender and sexual orientation on suicidal behavior. Finally, the results showed the moderating effect of parental support and gender in the relationship between sexual orientation and suicidal behavior. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of promoting sexual minority youths mental health and well-bein

Datos perdidos y propiedades psicométricas en los tests de personalidad

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of missing values on the psychometric properties of personality tests. An applied approach was used, trying to simulate conditions similar to those found in the professional practice. Two simulation studies were designed, based on actual data from the administration of ESQUIZO-Q test, which assesses schizotypy. In the first study a large sample was used (N=3056), and in the second one a smaller sample (N=200) was analyzed. In both cases four levels of missing values, and eight procedures for handling missing values were simulated. The influence of these conditions on the estimates of Cronbach's α, the factor structure of the test, and the arrangement of test scores were analyzed. The results suggest that in the presence of low levels of missing values, even the simplest imputation methods offer appropriate solutions from a applied point of view. From a statistical perspective the Expectation-Maximization (EM) method is the one with a better overall performance in the different criteria handled. Also noteworthy is the poor performance of replacement procedures when using the value of the previous or posterior item in order to maintain the factor structure of the data.Se investigó la influencia que tienen los valores perdidos sobre las propiedades psicométricas de los tests de personalidad. Se ha utilizado un enfoque  aplicado, simulando situaciones que puedan tener relevancia cara a la práctica profesional.  Se diseñaron dos estudios de simulación a partir de datos reales obtenidos de la aplicación de la prueba ESQUIZO-Q que evalúa esquizotipia. En el primero de ellos se utilizó una muestra de 3056 personas y en el segundo una de 200; en ambos casos se emplearon cuatro niveles de pérdida de respuestas y ocho procedimientos de imputación de los valores perdidos.Se estudió su influencia sobre las estimaciones del coeficiente α de Cronbach, la estructura factorial de la prueba y la ordenación de las puntuaciones en el cuestionario. Los resultados apuntan a que en presencia de niveles bajos de valores perdidos, incluso los métodos más simples, ofrecen soluciones muy razonables desde el punto de vista práctico. Desde la perspectiva más estadística el procedimiento de Expectación-Maximización (EM) es el que presenta un mejor comportamiento global en los diferentes criterios manejados. Destaca también el  pobre comportamiento de los métodos de sustitución por el valor anterior o posterior de cara a mantener la estructura factorial de los datos

New approaches on the study of the psychometric properties of the STAI

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI1). Previous studies have indicated different factor solutions. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of consensus about the best dimensional model of STAI scores.The sample consisted of 417 participants, composed of 387 (29.71% male) healthy participants (comparison group: M=35.5 years; SD=8.40), and 30 (36.66% male) patient (clinical group M=35.8 years; SD=12.94).The internal consistency evaluated through Ordinal Alpha was good, 0.98 and 0.94 in the non-clinical and the clinical samples, respectively. Test-retest reliability (two weeks) for Total Score was 0.81 for the non-clinical subsample, and 0.93 for the clinical subsample. Confirmatory factor analyses supported both a four factor model and bifactor model. Also, STAI scores showed statistically significant correlations with Burns Anxiety Inventory (Burns-A) scores. Furthermore, results showed statistically significant differences in the mean scores of the STAI between the clinical and the non-clinical subsamples.The psychometric properties of the STAI were adequate. The present study contributes to better understand the STAI structure through the comparison of new approaches in the study of the STAI internal structure. The results found may contribute in the efforts to improve the evaluation and identification of anxiety symptoms and disorders

Experiencias psicóticas atenuadas, problemas emocionales y comportamentales y estrategias de afrontamientos en adolescentes no clínicos

Individuals who reported psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are at increased risk for future clinical psychotic disorders. Furthermore, those with PLES report more emotional problems and less effective coping strategies. The main goal of the present study was to compare the emotional and behavioral problems and the coping strategies used by adolescents with and without PLEs. In addition, the relationship between the emotional and behavioral problems and the coping strategies in adolescents with PLEs was explored. A total of 1,713 nonclinical adolescents participated in the study, 832 males (48.6 %), with a mean age of 14.7 years (SD=1.7). Participants with PLEs presented a greater number of behavioral and emotional problems in comparison to those participants who did not report such experiences. Likewise, adolescents with PLEs used Avoidance coping strategies more frequently and Positive coping strategies less frequently in comparison to the adolescents without PLEs. The emotional and behavioral problems were found to be positively related to Avoidance coping and negatively related to Positive coping strategies in the adolescents with PLEs. These findings converge with data found in previous studies of both patients with schizophreniaand psychosis-prone individuals and have clear implications toward the establishment of prevention and early detection strategies in high-risk individualsIndividuos que informan de experiencias psicóticas atenuadas presentan un mayor riesgo futuro de transitar hacia los trastornos psicóticos. Además, aquellos que informan de este tipo de experiencias también presentan problemas emocionales y estrategias de afrontamiento menos efectivas. El principal objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los problemas emocionales y comportamentales y las estrategias de afrontamiento en adolescentes que informaron o no de síntomas psicóticos atenuados. También se examinó la relación entre los problemas emocionales y de comportamiento y las estrategias de afrontamiento en adolescentes que autoinformaron de experiencias alucinatorias. Un total de 1.713 adolescentes no clínicos participaron en el estudio, 832 hombres (48,6%), con una edad media de 14,7 años (DE=1,7). Los participantes con experiencias pseudopsicóticas presentaron un mayor número de problemas de conducta y emocionales en comparación con aquellos participantes que no informaron de tales experiencias. Del mismo modo, los adolescentes que informaron de esta sintomatología utilizaron estrategias de afrontamiento evitativas con mayor frecuencia y estrategias de afrontamiento positivas con menor frecuencia en comparación con los adolescentes del grupo control. Los problemas emocionales y de comportamiento se relacionaron de forma positiva con el afrontamiento evitativo y negativamente con las estrategias positivas de afrontamiento en el grupo de adolescentes con experiencias psicóticas subclínicas. Estos resultados convergen con los datos encontrados en estudios previos de pacientes con psicosis y en individuos adultos sanos con propensión de psicosis y tienen claras implicaciones hacia el establecimiento de estrategias de prevención y detección precoz en individuos de alto riesgo teórico