The kings schizotypy questionnaire as a quantitative measure of schizophrenia liability

Schizophr Res. 2000 Oct 27;45(3):213-21. doi: 10.1016/s0920-9964(99)00183-8.

Abstract

We used a new self-report measure, the Kings Schizotypy Questionnaire (KSQ; Williams, M. The psychometric assessment of schizotypal personality. PhD thesis. Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, 1993), to investigate schizotypy as a quantitative measure of familial liability to schizophrenia. The KSQ was administered to 135 DSM-IV schizophrenia probands, 153 of their healthy first-degree relatives, and 267 control subjects. We found that the questionnaire clearly differentiated schizophrenic from non-schizophrenic individuals, but failed to differentiate the relatives from controls. Possible reasons for this include defensive responding among relatives, self-selection bias among relatives, differences in data collection methods, and the possibility that positive aspects of schizotypy may not be closely related to familial liability to schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Humans
  • Ireland / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Inventory*
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis*
  • Schizophrenia / epidemiology
  • Schizophrenia / genetics*
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology