Citation

Ragsdale KA, Mitchell JC, Cassisi JE, Bedwell JS. Psychiatry Res. 2013; 210(3): 1000-1007.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-1390, United States. Electronic address: katieragsdale@knights.ucf.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2013.07.027

PMID

23988134

Abstract

Prior research indicates a relationship between psychopathy and schizophrenia, elucidating a specific trajectory toward violence. Recent research has suggested that this relationship exists at the nonclinical trait level of schizotypy; however, this finding has not been examined objectively. To explore this relationship using both subjective and objective measures, 54 undergraduates (50% male; mean age 20.41) who endorsed a wide range of schizotypy on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) completed a laboratory-based protocol. Participants viewed 15 pictures (five neutral, five threatening, and five of others in distress) from the International Affective Pictures System while electrodermal activity was recorded. As expected, all participants exhibited increased skin conductance levels (SCL) to threat and distress pictures compared to neutral pictures; however, no difference in SCL was found between threat and distress pictures. A unique relationship between psychopathy and schizotypy was found (i.e., schizotypy was related to higher Self-Centered Impulsivity and lower Fearless Dominance); however, schizotypy was related to increased SCL in response to emotional and neutral pictures. Although results do not support autonomic hyporesponsiveness often found in clinical psychopathy, a positive relationship was found between schizotypy and self-reported physical aggression. Findings highlight the need to examine other trajectories of violence within the schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Language: en