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.