title: Positive schizotypy is not associated with speech abnormality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether speech abnormalities typical of formal thought disorder in schizophrenia vary with the degree of positive schizotypy in the healthy population. We hypothesized that participants with high levels of positive schizotypy would show greater abnormality in speech relative to those with low levels of positive schizotypy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n=107) were prescreened with a positive schizotypy scale. Those meeting criteria for either high (n=23) or low (n=27) schizotypy provided speech samples which were assessed with a clinical though disorder rating scale (Thought and Language Index) for the presence of abnormality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in positive (P=0.25) or negative (P=0.21) speech abnormality between the high and low schizotypy groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although schizotypy is normally distributed in the general population, speech abnormality is not. Thus, the presence of aberrations in speech may predict risk of psychosis. Potential implications for risk assessment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. saraw@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Elton T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Ngan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult