Angers Kaley, Suhr Julie A, Buelow Melissa T
Ohio University, Department of Psychology, Porter Hall, 22 Richland Ave., Athens, OH, 45701, USA.
Ohio University, Department of Psychology, Porter Hall, 22 Richland Ave., Athens, OH, 45701, USA.
J Psychiatr Res. 2021 Apr;136:7-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.01.038. Epub 2021 Jan 25.
Language deficits emerge early in the course of schizophrenia, yet research findings in those at-risk for schizophrenia, such as those with schizotypy, are mixed. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the relationship of language ability, measured via semantic fluency, to schizotypy, examining both linear and non-linear relations. Semantic fluency data from 295 individuals with varying amounts of schizotypal traits were analyzed utilizing traditional methods (i.e., counting words generated that fit a specific semantic category). The content of semantic fluency responses was also analyzed via a semantic infrequency score (i.e., how infrequent participant responses were relative to all responses generated for the category in the study sample) and a total semantic productivity score (i.e., how many unique words generated overall, including those that did not fit the semantic category). Using traditional methods of scoring, schizotypy was not related to semantic fluency. However, schizotypy was non-linearly related to semantic infrequency and productivity, reflecting atypical semantic activation and processing. In particular, cognitive-perceptual and disorganized, but not interpersonal, traits were related to semantic infrequency and productivity. Valuable content-based information is missed when only analyzing semantic fluency data via the traditional method in the schizophrenia spectrum population. Cognitive-perceptual and disorganized traits, attenuated thought disorder symptoms, evidence the strongest relationship to semantic fluency, further illustrating the link between language and schizophrenia symptoms along the schizophrenia spectrum.
语言缺陷在精神分裂症病程早期就会出现，然而，对精神分裂症高危人群（如具有分裂型人格特征的人）的研究结果却参差不齐。本研究的目的是通过语义流畅性来阐明语言能力与分裂型人格特征之间的关系，同时考察线性和非线性关系。利用传统方法（即统计符合特定语义类别的生成单词数量）对295名具有不同程度分裂型人格特征个体的语义流畅性数据进行了分析。语义流畅性反应的内容还通过语义罕见性得分（即参与者的反应相对于研究样本中该类别所有反应的罕见程度）和总语义产出得分（即总体上生成的独特单词数量，包括那些不符合语义类别的单词）进行了分析。使用传统评分方法时，分裂型人格特征与语义流畅性无关。然而，分裂型人格特征与语义罕见性和产出呈非线性关系，反映了非典型的语义激活和加工。特别是，认知感知和紊乱（而非人际）特征与语义罕见性和产出有关。在精神分裂症谱系人群中，仅通过传统方法分析语义流畅性数据时，会遗漏有价值的基于内容的信息。认知感知和紊乱特征、思维紊乱症状减弱，与语义流畅性的关系最为密切，进一步说明了精神分裂症谱系中语言与精神分裂症症状之间的联系。
