Subjective experience of cognitive failures as possible risk factor for negative symptoms of psychosis in the general population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine whether proneness to subjective cognitive failure (cognitive based mistakes) increases the risk for the development of symptoms of psychosis and to what degree any association was familial.


METHODS
At baseline, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) questionnaire were administered in a general population sample of genetically related individuals (n = 755). Individuals scoring high (>75th percentile) or average on the CAPE (between 40th and 60th percentile) (n = 488) were reinterviewed with the CAPE and Structured Interview for Schizotypy-Revised (SIS-R) at follow-up (mean interval = 7.7 months, SD = 4.8 months).


RESULTS
Cross-trait, within-relative analysis showed a significant association between the CFQ and the negative dimension, assessed with both the CAPE and SIS-R, whereas no association was found between the CFQ and the positive dimension. Cross-trait, between-relative analyses showed no association between the CFQ in one relative and any of the dimensions of the subclinical psychosis phenotype in the other relative.


CONCLUSIONS
Proneness to subjective cognitive failure possibly contributes to the development or persistence of negative symptoms and can be seen as potential risk factor for negative symptoms of psychosis. This overlap is due to individual effects rather than familial liability.
Pfeifer
Stefanie
S
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616 (VIJV1), 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
van Os
Jim
J
Hanssen
Manon
M
Delespaul
Philippe
P
Krabbendam
Lydia
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010641:Phenotype; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires