Basic self‐disturbance in schizotypy

Abstract

Aim Phenomenological researchers argue that schizophrenia spectrum disorders are primarily disorders of the basic self. To test this argument, we compared self‐report and lexical measures of basic self‐disturbance between schizophrenia spectrum (high‐schizotypy) and non‐spectrum groups (low‐schizotypy). Methods From an initial sample (n = 310) screened with the (SPQ), n = 39 were classified as high schizotypy (z > 1.28 on at least one SPQ factor scale) and were compared to a randomly selected low‐schizotypy group (z < 1 on all three SPQ factor scales; n = 41). Participants wrote four narratives about personal and fictional experiences and completed the Ego Strength Questionnaire and a self‐report version of the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument. The written narratives were subjected to linguistic inquiry to examine pronoun usage (lexical measures). Results The high‐schizotypy group reported higher levels of basic symptoms, lower ego strength, and used third‐person and personal pronouns more frequently than the low‐schizotypy group. Self‐report measures correlated significantly with lexical measures. Self‐report and lexical measures were useful tools in predicting high schizotypy, correctly classifying 68% and 69% of schizotypy and non‐schizotypy, respectively. Conclusion In line with phenomenologists' arguments, high schizotypy was associated, to some extent, with basic self‐disturbance.