T77. DIAGNOSTIC AND NEUROCOGNITIVE CORRELATES OF SCHIZOTYPY WITHIN AND ACROSS THE PRONIA STUDY GROUPS

Abstract

SCOPO DEL LAVORO: Schizotypy is a multidimensional psychometric construct that defines positive and negative traits of personality. Per se it does not describe a pathological condition, although high scores at the scales measuring these traits may suggest proneness to psychosis. Also, previous studies associated different degrees of positive and negative schizotypal traits to variations in the persons' cognitive profiles. Those assumptions suggest the opportunity of investigating the relation between cognition and schizotypal personality traits, as well as their association with mental illness outcomes and the person's functioning in everyday life. The hypothesis of the present study is that similar pattern of positive and negative schyzoypy traits characterize individuals at risk of psychosis and patients meeting the criteria for recent onset psychosis, although with different degrees of severity. Instead patients with depression, who do not show psychotic symptoms, report negative schyzoypy traits only. Moreover, although specific combinations of schizotypy traits and cognitive alterations can associate to different psychopathological conditions, a set of latent cognitive variables can predict schizotypal profiles across clinical groups. MATERIALI E METODI: 115 participants, aged between 15 and 40 years, at high-risk for psychosis (CHR), 114 recent onset psychosis (ROP), 123 recent onset depression (ROD) and 252 healthy controls (HC) took part in the study. Tasks The participants filled the Wisconsin Schizotypy questionnaire, measuring positive and negative schizotypy traits. They were also tested with the PRONIA Cognitive Battery for visuo-spatial dexterity and memory, shortterm memory, Verbal Learning, Verbal Fluency, Attention, Emotions' Recognition, General Intelligence. Statistical analyses We run i) a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance with 'WSS subscales' as dependent variable; 'Group' as between subject factor; 'Age' and 'Gender' as covariates; ii) a Multinomial logistic regression with 'Group' as dependent variable; HC 'Group' as reference parameter; 'WSS subscales' and scores at the PCB's tests as predictors; 'Age' and 'Gender' as covariates; iii) PLS regression on HC only, with PCB's tests as pre- dictors and 'WSS subscales' as predicted scores, to identify the latent cognitive variables (LV) that predict the schizotypal traits; vi) test of the same PLS model on CHR, ROP and ROD. RISULTATI: ROP and CHR reported schizotypy traits, although only the negative symptoms involving social aspects were clearly evident in CHR. Also, ROP and CHR differed for the positive symptoms, as they were lower in CHR than in ROP. ROD scored high at the negative symptoms. The regressions analysis highlighted different patterns of associations of WSS and neurocognitive scores with the clinical status. The PLS regressions analysis highlighted a set of neurocognitive measures that can predict levels of positive and negative schizotypal traits. CONCLUSIONI: Schizotypy and neurocognitive measures can potentially differentiate pathological profiles and be of help in the early detection of patients who may develop psychosis.