Personality traits of schizophrenic spectrum and locus of control in non-affected parents of schizophrenic patients

Abstract

In the last years, the schizophrenia research has been addressed to the detection of vulnerability markers in subjects at risk. This vulnerability called ‘schizotypy’ can be identified in clinically non-affected subjects with a genetic disposition to the disorder. The main objective of this work has been the study of personality traits of schizophrenic spectrum as a vulnerability markers, and the study of locus of control variable in non-affected parents of schizophrenic patients. Data has been obtained from 26 couples of non-affected parents of schizophrenic patients and from 26 couples of normal parents of normal subjects, a total of 104 subjects have been evaluated. The Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (Mason, Claridge and Jackson, 1995), the Cuestionario de Evaluación IPDE (Loranger, 1988), the Symptom Checklist Revised (Derogatis, 1977) and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (Wallston, Wallston and DeVellis, 1974) have been used to test the subjects. The results has shown that parents of schizophrenic group have more negative schizotypal traits, more traits of the paranoid and avoidance personality disorders, more general psychopathological manifestations and a higher internal locus of control.