The Janus face of schizotypy: enhanced spiritual connection or existential despair?

Psychiatry Res. 2014 Dec 15;220(1-2):233-6. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.07.028. Epub 2014 Jul 19.

Abstract

It has been asserted that schizotypy has a negative relationship with subjective well-being. By employing a multidimensional measure of spiritual well being with 400 British College students we report a more complex relationship. The Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief Version were used and analysis made use of Canonical Correlational Analysis. Results suggested that two distinct relationships emerged between schizotypy and spirituality. First, a positive association between cognitive/perceptual features of schizotypy and spiritual connectedness emerged. Second a more global negative relationship between feelings of spiritual isolation and despair was found for all aspects of schizotypy. These findings challenge the previous literature based on one-dimensional subjective well being measures which have found only a negative relationship. However, the positive association between connectedness and cognitive-perceptual aspects of schizotypy raises import questions about the possible benefit of certain types of schizotypal experience.

Keywords: Early adulthood; Psychological well-being; Schizotypy; Spirituality.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality*
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / psychology*
  • Spirituality*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult