Cognitive clinical intervention in a patient with schizoid personality disorder: Case report. / Intervención clínica cognitiva en paciente con trastorno esquizoide de personalidad: reporte de caso.

The present case report describes a 19-year-old male patient whose main symptoms were emotional coldness, absence of close relationships, difficulty experiencing pleasure with other people, and lack of motivation to work or to continue his studies. A schizoid personality disorder was diagnosed as a product of early maladaptive patterns such as inhibition, emotional deprivation, social isolation, and inadequacy. Likewise, a rigid and fragmented family context was evidenced, with an affective absence of parents and a focus on strict behavioral rules. The study aimed to intervene, from a cognitive clinical approach, the early maladaptive patterns and symptoms that maintained the features of schizoid personality disorder in the patient. For this purpose, cognitive behavioral therapy was carried out, with techniques such as debates, images to reparentalize, assignment of tasks, use of humor, and social skills training, among others. In conclusion, it can be stated that the early maladaptive patterns maintained the schizoid personality symptomatology. Finally, it was demonstrated through clinical and psychometric criteria that cognitive behavioral therapy decreased schizoid personality behaviors in the patient.

El presente reporte de caso describe a un paciente varón de 19 años, que presentaba como principales síntomas frialdad emocional, ausencia de relaciones cercanas, problemas para experimentar placer con otras personas y carencia de motivación para trabajar o retomar sus estudios. Se diagnosticó un trastorno de personalidad esquizoide, producto de esquemas maladaptativos tempranos como inhibición, privación emocional, aislamiento social e inadecuación. Asimismo, se evidenció un contexto familiar rígido y fragmentado, con ausencia afectiva de padres y direccionado hacia normas estrictas en la conducta. El objetivo del estudio fue intervenir desde un enfoque clínico cognitivo los esquemas maladaptativos tempranos y síntomas que mantenían los rasgos de trastorno esquizoide de la personalidad en el paciente. Para esto se realizó una terapia cognitiva conductual, con técnicas como debates, imágenes para reparentalizar, asignación de tareas, uso del humor, entrenamiento de habilidades sociales, entre otros. Como conclusión se puede manifestar que los esquemas maladaptativos tempranos mantenían la sintomatología de personalidad esquizoide. Por último, se demostró a través de un criterio clínico y psicométrico que la terapia cognitiva conductual disminuyo las conductas de personalidad esquizoide en el paciente.

Conceptualizing a less paranoid schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia stands as one of the most studied and storied disorders in the history of clinical psychology; however, it remains a nexus of conflicting and competing conceptualizations. Patients endure great stigma, poor treatment outcomes, and condemnatory prognosis. Current conceptualizations suffer from unstable categorical borders, heterogeneity in presentation, outcome and etiology, and holes in etiological models. Taken in aggregate, research and clinical experience indicate that the class of psychopathologies oriented toward schizophrenia are best understood as spectra of phenomenological, cognitive, and behavioral modalities. These apparently taxonomic expressions are rooted in normal human personality traits as described in both psychodynamic and Five Factor personality models, and more accurately represent explicable distress reactions to biopsychosocial stress and trauma. Current categorical approaches are internally hampered by axiomatic bias and systemic inertia rooted in the foundational history of psychological inquiry; however, when such axioms are schematically decentralized, convergent cross-disciplinary evidence outlines a more robust explanatory construct. By reconceptualizing these disorders under a dimensional and cybernetic model, the aforementioned issues of instability and inaccuracy may be resolved, while simultaneously opening avenues for both early detection and intervention, as well as for more targeted and effective treatment approaches.

Suicidality in Individuals with Schizoid Personality Disorder or Traits: A Clinical Mini-Review of a Probably Underestimated Issue.

Schizoid personality disorder (SZPD) is a Cluster A personality disorder whose essential feature is a lifelong pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression. Although SZPD has been in every edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, empirical research on this disorder is actually limited, due to the fact that SZPD is rarely encountered in clinical settings. In fact, individuals with SZPD rarely present for treatment, as their isolation is often ego-syntonic; therefore, the prevalence of SZPD is not clearly established. Suicide ideation may be a running theme for individuals with SZPD. However, suicidality in SZPD is actually an underestimated topic. Aiming to draw more attention to this underestimated issue, with this paper the authors intend to provide a list of studies on suicidality in individuals with SZPD or traits, in the form of a clinical mini-review. Reported studies show that an underlying SZPD, or the presence of schizoid traits too, appear to be definitely a major risk factor for completed suicide and serious suicide attempts. This maladaptive personality disorder seems to not allow the individual to ask for help and to deny him the comforts of intimacy. Therefore, clinicians should be aware that schizoid traits suchs as solitary lifestyle, loneliness, emotional detachment, and impaired communication ability, are features associated with a vulnerability to suicidal behavior. We recommend the clinical assessment of this symptoms' constellation, in order to address patients with SZPD to most proper treatment.

Commentary about social avoidance and its significance in adolescents and young adults.

Social avoidance in young patients is a clinically worrisome phenomenon that characterizes impending schizophrenia, but that also constitutes a core phenomenon in avoidant personality disorder (AvPD), schizoid personality disorder (ScPD), and in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Especially in the absence of any other clinically relevant phenomena, understanding the origins of social avoidance may be one the most challenging tasks in assessing whether adolescents and young adults are at risk for developing schizophrenia. Descriptive and psychometric assessments only allow to comment on the absence or the presence of this phenomenon, but do not capture the origins and the meaning of social avoidance. Based on a narrative review, we highlight the importance of a phenomenological approach to unveil the Gestalt of social avoidance in these mental disorders, including and appraisal of the underlying mental structures and attachment styles. The phenomenological approach allows to distinguish the Gestalt of social avoidance between AvPD, ScPD, ASD, and beginning schizophrenia, to ensure correct diagnostic labelling and optimal treatment, and to avoid unwarranted stigmatization.

The mourning process and "living with the dead": Two case reports and a review of the literature.

The discovery of mummified bodies in domestic settings is not unusual in the medico-legal context. It is often a marker of social isolation, even in our urban modern society, and usually occurs among elderly people living alone or in precarious conditions. However, bereaved subjects can sometimes be found managing their grief by deliberately keeping the corpses of their loved ones at home. Investigation of these atypical cases can be challenging and often requires a multidisciplinary effort by different forensic specialists. We report two cases of people who lived for several months with the mummified remains of a relative. In both cases, the judge ordered a forensic psychiatry assessment of the survivors' competency and the reasons for this peculiar behavior, which is regarded as abnormal in our society. Case 1 describes a shared psychosis, which developed out of a condition of extreme seclusion of the entire family. Case 2 shows that even a mild personality disorder on which a series of traumatic events operates can trigger psychotic decompensation, causing extreme denial of the reality of death. The analysis of these cases contributes to our knowledge of the scantly studied phenomenon of "Living with the Dead" and raises questions about the psychopathology behind it. It is useful to identify subjects who are more prone to developing this "deviant" behavior, in order to distinguish people with mental illness from those who merely want to profit from the death of a loved one.

Development and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the dimensional clinical personality inventory - Schizoid Personality Disorder Scale / Desenvolvimento e avaliação psicométrica preliminar do inventário dimensional clínico da personalidade - Escala transtorno da personalidade esquizoide / Desarrollo y evaluación psicométrica preliminar del inventario dimensional clínico de personalidad - Escala del trastorno esquizoide de la personalidad

A new dimensional-based framework was proposed, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). This study aimed to develop a specific version of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory 2 (IDCP-2), focused on the assessment of the schizoid personality disorder (SZPD) according to the HiTOP. In stage 1, we developed a new factor to cover all SZPD traits, as presented in the HiTOP. Six factors (one new and five from the IDCP-2) composed the IDCP-SZPD. In stage 2, 434 adults from the community, aged from 18 to 67 years (M=31.6, SD=9.7), completed factors from three self-report measures: the IDCP-SZPD, PID-5, and FFaVA. The IDCP-SZPD factors and total score presented high reliability. Correlations and a bootstrap two-sample t-test comparison corroborated the expectations. Although we found evidence supporting the use of the IDCP-SZPD for the measurement of SZPD traits, further research is needed to verify the replicability of the present findings in samples composed of SZPD patients. (AU)

Um novo framework dimensional foi proposto, o Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma versão específica do Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade 2 (IDCP-2), com foco na avaliação do transtorno da personalidade esquizoide (TPE) de acordo com o HiTOP. No estágio 1, foi desenvolvido um novo fator, buscando cobrir todos os traços do TPE apresentados no HiTOP. Compuseram o IDCP-SZPD seis fatores (um novo e cinco do IDCP-2). No estágio 2, 434 adultos da população geral, com idade entre 18 e 67 anos (M = 31.6; DP = 9,7), completaram fatores de três medidas de autorrelato: IDCP-SZPD, PID-5 e FFaVA. Os fatores do IDCP-SZPD e o escore total apresentaram alta precisão. Correlações e comparações via bootstrap two-sample t teste corroboraram as expectativas. Embora evidências favoráveis tenham sido observadas para o uso do IDCP-SZPD, na avaliação de traços do TPE, estudos futuros devem verificar a replicabilidade dos achados em amostras de pacientes com TPE. (AU)

Un nuevo framework dimensional fue propuesto, el Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). El objetivo fue el de desarrollar una versión específica del Inventario Dimensional Clínico de Personalidad 2 (IDCP-2), centrado en la evaluación del trastorno esquizoide de la personalidad (TPE) según el HiTOP. En la etapa 1 se desarrolló un nuevo factor para cubrir todos los rasgos del TPE presentados en el HiTOP. Seis factores (uno nuevo y cinco del IDCP-2) compusieron el IDCP-SZPD. En la etapa 2, 434 adultos de la comunidad, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 67 años (M =31,6, DS=9,7), completaron los factores de tres medidas de auto-informe: IDCP-SZPD, PID-5 y FFaVA. Los factores del IDCP-SZPD y el puntaje total mostraron una alta confiabilidad. Las correlaciones y la comparación del bootstrap two-sample t test corroboraron las expectativas. Aunque se observaron evidencias favorables para el uso de la IDCP-SZPD para la medición de rasgos de TPE, los estudios posteriores deberían verificar la replicabilidad de los presentes hallazgos en muestras compuestas por pacientes con TPE. (AU)

On the Continuity Between Autistic and Schizoid Personality Disorder Trait Burden: A Prospective Study in Adolescence.

Although widely conceived as distinct conditions, higher-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizoid personality disorder (schizoid PD) share similar clinical symptomatology. This study explored the relationship between the two disorders by collecting extensively validated measures of autistic trait burden (Social Responsive Scale, Second Edition) and schizoid PD affectation (Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies) from clinically ascertained verbal males with and without autism ages 12 to 25 years (N = 72) via parent, teacher, and self-report. Although only a small minority of adolescents with ASD met full diagnostic criteria for schizoid PD, participants with ASD endorsed a continuous distribution of schizoid PD traits that reflected a pronounced pathological shift in comparison with those in the control group, with one half of ASD males experiencing three or more Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition schizoid PD criterion items "often" or "almost always." Results suggest significant amplification of schizoid PD trait burden in adolescents with ASD. ASD-specific interventions should be considered for patients with schizoid PD with premorbid histories of ASD.

Differences in obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions between patients with epilepsy with obsessive-compulsive symptoms and patients with OCD.

Clinical correlates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) were evaluated in 100 adult consecutive outpatients with epilepsy, using the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II), and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS) was applied to determine the types and severity of OCS to the 45 patients with epilepsy who were over 21 points on the OCI-R scale and 30 patients who were with diagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among the patients in the psychiatry outpatient clinic, as a control group. As a result, it was found that patients with epilepsy with OCS tend to have more symmetry/exactness obsessions and compulsions, whereas patients with OCD had significantly more contamination/cleaning and aggressiveness obsessions and compulsions. In addition, OCS was found to be significantly higher in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and extratemporal epilepsy than generalized epilepsy. However, OCS were correlated with depression, dissociation, and schizotypy in patients with epilepsy, while only depression was predictive when regression analysis was performed for OCS. This study is the first study to compare patients with OCD with patients with epilepsy in terms of the nature of OCS and first identified the differences in OCS dimensions between patients with epilepsy with OCS and patients with OCD.

[Mental constitution and mental disease: from Th. Tilings's to E. Kretschmer's concepts]. / Psikhicheskaia konstitutsiia i psikhicheskaia bolezn': ot kontseptsii Tilinga k kontseptsii Krechmera.

The dynamics of the concept of the continual development of mental disease from the constitution that was the most clearly formulated by a Russian psychiatrist Th. Tiling in the discussion with the German psychiatrist C. Neisser is presented. The concept of Th. Tiling influenced E. Bleuler's approach to the description of basic and accessory symptoms of schizophrenia and also on E. Kretschmer's concept of constitution and mental disease. Main characteristics of cycloid and schizoid personality of E. Kretschmer's concept are presented. The author notes the very broad E. Kretschmer's understanding of 'psychesthetic proportion', which state explains not only the diversity of schizoid types but also many psychotic psychopathological phenomena. In addition to the altered affectivity, autism was the second basic symptom of schizophrenia, which mild manifestations form the basis for E. Kretschmer systematics of schizoid types. E. Kretschmer's understanding of autism was broader than Bleuler's and was presented by E. Kretschmer as a symptom derived from special schizoid affectivity (psychesthetic proportion). The critics of E. Kretschmer's concept by some contemporary German psychiatrists is also considered.

Theory of Mind (ToM) Performance in High Functioning Autism (HFA) and Schizotypal-Schizoid Personality Disorders (SSPD) Patients.

The similarities between high functioning autism (HFA) and schizotypal-schizoid personality disorder (SSPD) in terms of social cognition and interpersonal deficits may lead to confusion in symptom interpretation, and consequently result in misdiagnosis. Thus, this study aims to investigate differences in mentalizing with particular interest on the socio-cognitive and socio-affective dimensions. Three Advanced Theory of Mind (ToM) tests were applied in 35 patients with HFA, 30 patients with SSPD and 36 healthy controls. Individuals with HFA showed greater impairment and no dissociation between affective and cognitive ToM components. Conversely, SSPD individuals displayed less difficulties but greater impairments on the cognitive component. Beyond the replicability of ToM impairment in HFA individuals, our findings suggest more impaired cognitive ToM in SSPD participants which further support the sequence of mentalizing development build upon different chronological stages.

O paradoxo da unidade na dualidade: elementos para a clí­nica dos casos-limite / La paradoja de la unidad en la dualidad: elementos para la clí­nica de los casos lí­mite / The paradox of unity in duality: elements for the clinic of borderline cases

O artigo irá aprofundar o debate acerca dos primórdios da constituição psíquica e sua relação com a etiologia dos casos-limite. Assim, apesar de não se tratar de um artigo sobre a infância, eixo principal desta revista, ele aporta a uma discussão teórica sobre a constituição psíquica e sobre a importância das interações iniciais da vida na etiologia dos casos-limite. Em seu primeiro eixo, discutiremos os primórdios do psiquismo como fonte de subsídios para uma clínica dos casos-limite, já que estes casos são compreendidos como marcados por traumas no âmbito das primeiras relações de objeto. Observa-se, na relação transferencial com estes pacientes, mecanismos de defesa verticais, como cisões, mais frequentemente do que mecanismos de defesa horizontais, como o recalque. O recalque foi o conceito central para a constituição da técnica psicanalítica clássica. Este fato faz com que nos defrontemos com a necessidade de refinamento da técnica analítica para abordar de forma mais eficaz estes casos que desafiam a técnica clássica. Neste sentido, estudaremos, no segundo eixo deste trabalho, a contratransferência sob uma perspectiva da intersubjetividade e da valorização da qualidade da relação analítica.

El artículo busca profundizar en el debate acerca de los principios de la constitución psíquica y su relación con la etiología de los casos dudosos. Aunque su tema no es sobre la infancia, línea principal de esta revista, plantea una discusión teórica sobre la constitución psíquica y la importancia de los primeros años de vida en la etiología de los casos límite. En su primer eje central, se exponen los principios del psiquismo como una fuente de subvenciones para una clínica de casos límite, puesto que estos son marcados por traumas en el contexto de las primeras relaciones de objeto. Se observa en la relación de transferencia con estos pacientes los mecanismos de defensa vertical como divisiones más frecuentes que mecanismos de defensa horizontal, como la represión. La represión fue el concepto central para el establecimiento de la técnica psicoanalítica clásica. Este hecho nos hace abordar la necesidad de refinamiento de la técnica analítica para exponer más eficazmente estos casos que desafían a la técnica clásica. En este sentido, en el segundo eje de este trabajo, vamos a estudiar la contratransferencia bajo una perspectiva de la intersubjetividad y la apreciación de la calidad de la relación analítica.

The article will deepen the debate about the beginnings of psychic constitution and its relation to the etiology of borderline cases. So, although this is not an article about childhood, main axe of this journal, it brings a theoretical discussion about the psychic constitution and the importance of the early interactions of life in the etiology of borderline cases. In the first axe, early objects relationships and the reorganization of the initials attachments as a source of subsidies for a clinic of borderline cases will be discussed. These cases are understood as marked by early trauma in the context of the first object relationships. It is noted, in relation to transference with these patients, vertical defense mechanisms, such as splitting, emerge more frequently than horizontal defense mechanisms, such as repression. The repression was the central concept for the establishment of classical psychoanalytic technique. This fact makes us tackle the need for refinement of analytical technique for approaching more effectively these cases that challenge the classical technique. In this sense, we will study, in the second axis of this paper, the countertransference under a intersubjectivity perspective and the appreciation of the quality of the analytical relationship.

The schizoid experience according to Fairbairn and Guntrip / A experiência esquizoide segundo fairbairn e guntrip

RESUMO: O presente artigo tem por objetivo promover uma investigação acerca das contribuições de Ronald Fairbairn e Harry Guntrip a respeito da esquizoidia a partir da ótica da teoria das relações objetais. Com esta finalidade, faremos uma exposição sobre a constituição da subjetividade segundo esses autores e discutiremos as falhas no percurso desenvolvimental que proporcionam o surgimento das tendências e características esquizoides, considerando as divergências teóricas presentes entre as obras de Fairbairn e Guntrip.

ABSTRACT: This article aims to conduct a research about the contributions of Ronald Fairbairn and Harry Guntrip on schizoidism from the perspective of object relations theory. To this end, we will hold an exhibition on the constitution of subjectivity according to these authors and discuss the flaws in the developmental pathway that allows the emergence of schizoid characteristics, noting the existing theoretical differences in Fairbairn and Guntrip's works.

Beyond the mental pain: A case-control study on the contribution of schizoid personality disorder symptoms to medically serious suicide attempts.

BACKGROUND: Clinical and research findings have highlighted the role of interpersonal factors in suicidal behavior with high levels of intent and lethality. Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is at the extreme end of interpersonal difficulties. Thus, we aimed to understand the contribution of SPD symptoms to suicide behavior and specifically to more lethal suicide attempts. METHOD: Four groups were investigated (N = 338): medically serious suicide attempters, medically non-serious suicide attempters, psychiatric and healthy controls. SPD symptoms, mental pain variants, and clinical characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, attempters were characterized by higher levels of most SPD symptoms. Solitary lifestyle and emotional detachment were higher among medically serious suicide attempters relative to less-serious attempters. Emotional detachment doubled the risk for high lethality, beyond mental pain variables. CONCLUSIONS: SPD symptoms of interpersonal difficulties and low levels of emotional expressions are important risk factors for more severe suicidal behavior. Implications for identification of at-risk groups for suicide are discussed.

A developmentally-stable pattern of premorbid schizoid-schizotypal features predicts psychotic transition from the clinical high-risk for psychosis state.

BACKGROUND: Despite the extensive research performed on prediction of psychosis from a Clinical High Risk for Psychosis state (CHR-P), the positive predictive value of the CHR-P designation remains unsatisfactory and further models including additional clinical and biological variables are required. Existing studies indicate that schizotypy assessed at baseline in "at-risk" individuals may be considered a predictor of transition from CHR-P to psychosis. This approach, however, is burdened with bias resulting from a possible overlap between current psychopathology and schizotypal features. No studies so far have assessed schizotypy in CHR-P from a developmental perspective. AIM: The aim of the study was to identify associations between a long-standing, parent-reported premorbid level of schizoid-schizotypal traits and the probability of psychotic transition in individuals with CHR-P. METHODS: The mothers of 107 individuals diagnosed as presenting CHR-P with the use of Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States12/2006 were interviewed with the Scale for the Assessment of Premorbid Schizoid-Schizotypal Traits (PSST). RESULTS: A high level of enduring schizotypy was found to be significantly associated with psychotic transition from CHR-P (HR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.40-2.27, p < 0.0001), as indicated by the proportional hazards model, adjusted for age, sex and clinical covariates potentially related to the outcome. PSST items comprising negative schizotypy appeared to be the strongest predictors of transition. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of parent-reported, present early in the development premorbid schizoid-schizotypal traits, which can be easily performed in clinical settings, may be of value in estimating the probability of transition from an "at risk" state to psychotic disorder.

Left colon interposition for esophageal reconstruction after perforation by metal blades ingestion: a case report.

Esophageal reconstruction with colonic or jejunal segment is a second choice treatment when the stomach is injured or not adequate for use. These reconstructions, whether pedicled or as free jejunal graft, are technically demanding and they are associated with high rate of morbidity and mortality. Complications are mainly due to insufficient blood supply and therefore anastomotic leak or stricture and graft necrosis. We describe the case of a 51-year-old psychiatric man with diagnosis of esophageal perforation after ingestion of metallic razor blades for suicide intent. The patient was treated at an outside hospital with endoscopic removal of the blades and apposition of endoscopic clips, be cause of esophageal mucosal perforation. Nevertheless, he developed a septic status caused by mediastinitis. The patient underwent several interventions to solve the sepsis and after complete recovery he was referred to our Department for esophageal reconstruction. During surgery we found that the stomach was unavailable for reconstruction, therefore a left colonic interposition pedicled on the left colic vessels was performed through the retrosternal route. During the postoperative course the patient developed acute respiratory failure and suppuration of the cervical wound. The postoperative course was complicated because of the poor compliance of the patient due to his psychiatric disorder. He was discharged in postoperative day (POD) 42 in good clinical conditions, on oral-only diet. Colonic interposition through the retrosternal route after esophagectomy is a technically demanding procedure, associated with high morbidity and mortality, but it is a feasible option when the stomach is not available for reconstruction.

Subjective quality of life in recent onset of psychosis patients and its association with sociodemographic variables, psychotic symptoms and clinical personality traits.

AIM: There is lack of research on the study of clinical personality traits in recent onset of psychosis (ROP) patients. The aims of this research were to study the relations among psychosocial, personality and clinical characteristics in ROP patients and also the effect that significant variables had on the different domains of Quality of Life (QoL). METHODS: Data for these analyses were obtained from 81 ROP patients. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Scale were used to assess personality, symptoms and QoL. RESULTS: Correlations between the negative symptoms and the physical, psychological and social domains of QoL, and the disorganized symptoms and physical domain, were found. Furthermore, the physical, psychological and social relationship domains of QoL were lower in patients with schizoid traits and the psychological domain was lower in patients with depressive traits. In contrast, the psychological and social domains were higher in patients with histrionic traits, while the physical domain was higher for patients with narcissistic traits. Multiple linear regressions demonstrated that negative symptoms and narcissistic and depressive traits explained 16.9% of the physical domain. Narcissistic and depressive traits explained 15% of the psychological domain. Finally, the negative symptoms and histrionic traits explained 13.7% of the social domain. CONCLUSIONS: QoL seems to be better explained by negative psychotic symptoms and some clinical personality traits. Our results support the importance of integrated intervention approaches that consider personality.

Adaptación al español de la escala Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness para valorar el estigma personal / Adaptation into Spanish of the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness scale to assess personal stigma

Introducción: En ocasiones los pacientes con esquizofrenia asumen como propio el estigma social relacionado con la enfermedad y se origina el denominado estigma personal. El estigma personal implica el autoestigma (interiorización de estereotipos negativos), el estigma percibido (percepción de rechazo) y el estigma experimentado (experiencias de discriminación). El estigma personal se relaciona con peor adherencia al tratamiento y peor funcionamiento social; por tanto, es importante contar con medidas adecuadas del estigma personal. Una de las medidas más utilizadas es la escala Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI). Esta escala está disponible en español, aunque la versión diseñada no se sometió a un análisis psicométrico riguroso. El presente estudio se plantea analizar las propiedades psicométricas de una nueva versión en español de la ISMI. Material y métodos: La nueva versión se tradujo como Estigma Interiorizado de Enfermedad Mental (EIEM). Se calcularon la consistencia interna y la fiabilidad test-retest en una muestra de 69 pacientes diagnosticados de esquizofrenia o trastorno esquizoafectivo. También se analizó el porcentaje de pacientes que mostraban estigma, y su relación con variables sociodemográficas y clínicas. Resultados: La nueva versión obtuvo valores adecuados de consistencia interna y fiabilidad test-retest para el total de la prueba (0,91 y 0,95 respectivamente) y para las 5 subescalas que integran la EIEM, salvo la subescala de Resistencia al estigma (alfa de Cronbach 0,42). Conclusiones: La EIEM parece una escala adecuada para valorar el estigma personal en población española con trastorno mental grave, al menos en personas con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia o trastorno esquizoafectivo

Introduction: Patients with schizophrenia sometimes internalise social stigma associated to mental illness, and they develop personal stigma. Personal stigma includes self-stigma (internalisation of negative stereotypes), perceived stigma (perception of rejection), and experienced stigma (experiences of discrimination). Personal stigma is linked with a poorer treatment adherence, and worst social functioning. For this reason, it is important to have good measurements of personal stigma. One of the most frequently used measurements is the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale. There is a Spanish version of the scale available, although its psychometric properties have not been studied. The main aim of this study is to analyse the psychometric properties of a new Spanish version of the ISMI scale. Material and methods: The new version was translated as Estigma Interiorizado de Enfermedad Mental (EIEM). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were calculated in a sample of 69 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The rate of patients showing personal stigma was also studied, as well as the relationship between personal stigma and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results: The adapted version obtained good values of internal consistency and test-retest reliability, for the total score of the scale (0.91 and 0.95 respectively), as well as for the five subscales of the EIEM, except for the Stigma Resistance subscale (Cronbach's alpha 0.42). Conclusions: EIEM is an appropriate measurement tool to assess personal stigma in a Spanish population with severe mental disorder, at least in those with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder

Prediction of prodromal symptoms and schizophrenia-spectrum personality disorder traits by positive and negative schizotypy: A 3-year prospective study.

The present study extends previous cross-sectional findings by examining the predictive validity of positive and negative schizotypy in a young adult sample at a three-year follow-up. Schizotypy and schizophrenia share a comparable multidimensional structure with positive and negative dimensions being the most strongly supported factors. Previous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies employing the psychometric high-risk strategy indicated that schizotypy is a useful method for identifying risk and resilience factors for the development of schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology. In the present study, 103 participants (77% of 134 candidate participants) were reassessed at a three-year follow-up. As hypothesized, positive schizotypy predicted psychotic-like symptoms, depression, low self-esteem, and general psychopathology. Negative schizotypy predicted emotional disturbances, schizoid personality traits, and mental health treatment during the past year. As expected, both schizotypy dimensions predicted schizotypal, paranoid, and avoidant personality traits, and impaired functioning. These longitudinal findings provide additional evidence supporting the multidimensional model of schizotypy as a valid framework for studying etiological mechanisms and trajectories of psychosis.

Applying the unified protocol to a single case of major depression with schizoid and depressive personality traits.

BACKGROUND: The study presents the use of the Unified Protocol (UP) in a case of a male diagnosed with major depressive disorder and schizoid and depressive personality traits. The therapeutic focus of UP is to identify maladaptive behaviors of emotion regulation and to train new regulation strategies such as cognitive re-appraisal or emotional exposure exercises. METHOD: This is a single-case research study. The intervention was carried out in twenty 1-hour sessions for 6 months. After treatment completion, follow-ups were conducted at three, six, and twelve months. RESULTS: The results of the 12-month follow-up revealed a clinically significant change in depressive symptomatology (RCI BDI-II = -5.51), negative affect (RCI NEGATIVE PANAS = -3.61), quality of life (RCIICV-Sp = 4.61) and schizoid (RCIMCMI-III-Schizoid = -4.36) and depressive (RCIMCMI-III-Depressive = -5.24) personality traits. Schizoid and depressive personality traits did not interfere with the application, course, and compliance with treatment. These results are discussed with regard to similar studies, also based on the use of the UP to work on emotion regulation in the treatment of emotional disorders with clinical comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The training of emotion regulation strategies through UP could be an effective proposal to treat emotional disorders with pathological personality traits comorbidity.

Social Disconnection in Schizophrenia and the General Community.

Social disability is a defining characteristic of schizophrenia and a substantial public health problem. It has several components that are difficult to disentangle. One component, social disconnection, occurs extensively in the general community among nonhelp-seeking individuals. Social disconnection is an objective, long-standing lack of social/family relationships and minimal participation in social activities. It is associated with negative health effects, including early mortality, and is distinct from subjective loneliness. These 2 topics, social disability in schizophrenia and social disconnection in the general community, have generated entirely distinct research literatures that differ in their respective knowledge gaps and emphases. Specifically, the consequences of social disability in schizophrenia are unknown but its determinants (ie, nonsocial cognition, social cognition, and social motivation) have been well-examined. Conversely, the health consequences of social disconnection in the general community are well-established, but the determinants are largely unknown. Social disconnection is a condition that presents substantial public health concerns, exists within and outside of current psychiatric diagnostic boundaries, and may be related to the schizophrenia spectrum. A comparison of these 2 literatures is mutually informative and it generates intriguing research questions that can be critically evaluated.