Schizotypal personality disorder in individuals with the Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome: Frequent co-occurrence without an increased risk for conversion to threshold psychosis

J Psychiatr Res. 2019 Jul:114:88-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.04.018. Epub 2019 Apr 21.

Abstract

The Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome (APS), proposed as a condition warranting further study in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), is a controversial diagnostic construct originally developed to identify individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis. The relationship of APS and Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD) remains unclear with respect to their potential co-occurrence and the effect of SPD on risk for conversion to threshold psychosis. We examined the prevalence and effect on conversion of SPD in a cohort of 218 individuals whose symptoms met APS criteria. Results indicated that SPD was highly prevalent (68%), and that SPD did not influence risk for conversion. Rather, total positive symptom burden measured by the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS; OR 1.12, p = 0.02) emerged as the strongest predictor of conversion. These data suggest that when encountering a patient whose presentation meets SPD criteria, the clinician should assess whether APS criteria are also met and, for 1-2 years, carefully monitor positive symptoms for possible conversion to threshold psychosis.

Keywords: Attenuated psychosis syndrome; Clinical high-risk for psychosis; Prodromal psychosis; Schizotypal personality disorder; Schizotypy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Psychotic Disorders / etiology
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / complications
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / psychology*
  • Syndrome
  • Young Adult