Social functioning impairments in schizotypy when social cognition and neurocognition are not impaired

Abstract

The present study examined the social, cognitive, and emotional functioning of persons with schizotypy. Over 2000 undergraduate students were screened for schizotypy with the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire – Brief over two consecutive semesters. Ninety-two persons with high schizotypy and 22 persons with low schizotypy completed measures of social functioning (Social Adjustment Scale, Social Functioning Scale, MOS Social Support Survey), working memory (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing, Corsi Block Tapping Test) and empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Empathy Quotient). Persons with high schizotypy, when compared to their counterparts with low schizotypy, displayed deficits on many indices of social functioning even though differences in working memory and empathy were not observed. The social functioning deficits of persons with high schizotypy included impairments in friendship relations, family relations, interpersonal engagement, and recreational activities. These findings indicate that persons with high schizotypy experience broad deficits in social functioning even when their cognitive and emotional skills are unaffected. Keywords: Social functioning, Empathy, Working memory, Social cognition, Schizotypy, Schizophrenia