Neuropsychologic profile of college students with schizotypal traits

BackgroundThis study investigated the neuropsychologic functioning in nonclinical individuals with schizotypal traits using a comprehensive battery of neuropsychologic tests.MethodWe measured the neuropsychologic functioning of individuals with psychometrically defined nonclinical schizotypy (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 31) for verbal memory (the Korean version of the California Verbal Learning Test), nonverbal memory (the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test), executive function (the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test), and attention (the d2 Test, Trail Making Test, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test).ResultsThe schizotypal trait group committed significantly more total and perseverative errors and completed fewer categories on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test than the control group. Performance on the other neuropsychologic tests did not differ between groups.ConclusionsThe nonclinical individuals with schizotypal traits demonstrated executive dysfunction, showing decreased ability in conceptualization, use of cues, and mental flexibility. Furthermore, these results indicate that the cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia are also a characteristic of nonclinical individuals with schizotypal traits.