A bias against disconfirmatory evidence is associated with delusion proneness in a nonclinical sample.
Previous work has suggested that a bias against disconfirmatory evidence (BADE) may be associated with the schizophrenia spectrum. The current investigation focused on whether a BADE (1) overlaps with traditional measures of memory and executive functions or selectively taps into a unique aspect of cognition and (2) is correlated with delusional ideation but not with other aspects of schizotypy. Sixty-eight undergraduate students were administered the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), the BADE test, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), the Trail Making Tests A and B (TMT), and tests used to estimate IQ. Factor analysis of all cognition measures resulted in a 6-factor solution, 4 of which reflected the 4 domains of neuropsychological tests (WCST, RAVLT, TMT, and IQ), and 2 of which reflected different aspects of the BADE test: Initial Belief and Integration of Disconfirmatory Evidence. This solution suggests that BADE measures were independent from the other cognitive domains measured. Integration of Disconfirmatory Evidence was the only factor that correlated with delusion-content subscales of the SPQ, providing support for the contribution of a BADE to delusional ideation.
Woodward
Todd S
TS
Department of Research, Riverview Hospital, Canada V3C 4J2. toddswoodward@gmail.com
Buchy
Lisa
L
Moritz
Steffen
S
Liotti
Mario
M
D015982:Bias; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003657:Decision Making; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires