title: The independence of schizotypy from affective temperaments--a combined confirmatory factor analysis of SPQ and the short TEMPS-A.
abstract: Sparse evidence of a co-aggregation of the risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder provides support for a shared but nonspecific genetic etiology of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Temperaments are conceptualized as trait sub-syndromic conditions of major pathologies. This study set out to test the hypothesis of a continuum between schizotypy and affective temperaments versus the alternative hypothesis of their independence based on a cross-sectional, survey design involving 649 (males: 47%) college students. The short 39-item TEMPS-A and the SPQ were used as measures of the affective temperaments and of schizotypy, respectively. Confirmatory factor analyses were applied to a unidimensional model, to a standard correlate traits model, to second-order representations of a common latent structure, and to a bifactor model. Confirmatory bifactor modeling provided evidence against a complete independence of the dimensions subsumed by the affective and the schizotypal traits. The best solution distinguished between two sub-domains grouping positive symptoms and negative symptoms as measured by the SPQ subscales, and a sub-domain related to the affective temperaments as measured by the TEMPS-A. Limitations due to the use of subscales from two different tools should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, University of Cagliari, Italy; Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy; Genneruxi Medical Center, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: apreti@tin.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Preti
authors.affiliation: Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, University of Cagliari, Italy; Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corrias
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mersia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabbrielli
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.affiliation: Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, University of Cagliari, Italy; Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pintus
authors.affiliation: Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, University of Cagliari, Italy; Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pintus
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scanu
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tronci
authors.affiliation: Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, University of Cagliari, Italy; Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vellante
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy; Unit of Research and development, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siddi
authors.affiliation: Section on Clinical Psychology, Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella Rita
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Petretto
authors.affiliation: Center of Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro Giovanni
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010641:Phenotype; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Confirmatory factor analysis; Psychotic disorders/Etiology; Schizotypal personality questionnaire; Schizotypy; TEMPS-A; Temperament