Thoughts Falling Apart: Disorganized Schizotypy Specifically Predicts Both Psychotic- and Stress-Reactivity in Daily Life.

OBJECTIVE

Schizotypal personality traits, such as unusual experiences, odd beliefs, or social anhedonia, predict psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and heightened stress-reactivity in daily life. Yet, in previous studies, stressor appraisal, but not exposure, was used to predict stress-reactivity, which might be a consequence of behavioral sensitization rather than a valid predictor of it.

METHOD: We conducted an experience sampling study where 126 participants reported PLEs, event appraisals, and exposure to stressors, yielding 4611 observations. We tested the association of schizotypal traits with PLEs and event-unpleasantness in interaction with stressor exposure.

RESULTS

Disorganized (but not positive or negative) schizotypy predicted not only more intense PLEs but also higher PLEs in periods when stressor exposure had risen. However, in higher negative schizotypy, such PLE-reactivity to stressors was reversed. Moreover, individuals with higher disorganization found events more unpleasant overall, and for them, being exposed to more stressors was related to a steeper rise in appraising events as unpleasant.

CONCLUSIONS

Disorganization, but not positive or negative schizotypy, might be a specific determinant of stressor-related increases in PLEs and negative event appraisal in everyday life in the general population. This supports that disorganized personality might be a critical predictor of vulnerability to stress-related mental health impairments.