Supplementary Material for: Examining Cognitive Biases Uniquely Associated with Schizotypy

Introduction: Individuals with schizotypy experience a number of cognitive biases that may increase risk to develop schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology. However, cognitive biases are also present in mood and anxiety disorders and it is currently unclear which biases are specific to schizotypy and which may be a result of comorbid depression or anxiety. Methods: 462 participants completed measures of depression, anxiety, cognitive biases, cognitive schemas, and schizotypy. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between schizotypy, depression, anxiety, cognitive biases and schemas. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between cognitive biases and schizotypy after controlling for depression and anxiety. Moderated regression analyses were also conducted to investigate the moderating role of biological sex and ethnicity in the association between cognitive biases and schizotypy. Results: Self-referential processing, belief inflexibility, and attention for threat were associated with schizotypy continuously. The belief inflexibility bias and social cognition problems were specifically associated with schizotypy after controlling for depression and anxiety and were not directly associated with either depression or anxiety. These associations were not moderated by biological sex or ethnicity. Discussion/Conclusion: The belief inflexibility bias may be an important cognitive bias underlying schizotypal personality and further research will be important to determine whether this bias is also associated with an increased likelihood of transitioning to psychosis.

引言：具有分裂型特质（schizotypy）的个体存在多种认知偏差，这类偏差可能提升其罹患精神分裂症谱系精神病理的风险。然而，心境障碍与焦虑障碍患者同样存在认知偏差，目前尚不清楚哪些偏差仅与分裂型特质相关，又有哪些可能是共病抑郁或焦虑的继发表现。
方法：本研究共纳入462名参与者，使其完成抑郁、焦虑、认知偏差、认知图式（cognitive schemas）以及分裂型特质的相关测评。研究首先采用相关分析，探究分裂型特质、抑郁、焦虑、认知偏差与认知图式之间的关联；随后通过分层回归分析，在控制抑郁与焦虑变量的前提下，考察认知偏差与分裂型特质之间的关联；此外还开展了调节回归分析，以探究生物学性别与族群在认知偏差和分裂型特质关联中的调节作用。
结果：自我参照加工（self-referential processing）、信念固着（belief inflexibility）以及威胁注意偏向与分裂型特质呈持续相关。在控制抑郁与焦虑变量后，信念固着偏差与社会认知问题仍与分裂型特质存在特异性关联，且二者与抑郁或焦虑均无直接关联。上述关联未受到生物学性别或族群的调节。
讨论/结论：信念固着偏差可能是支撑分裂型人格的关键认知偏差之一，未来需进一步探究该偏差是否与精神病性症状转化风险升高存在关联。