OVERVIEW
Traditional models of mental illness have conceptualized psychopathology using categorical diagnoses. However, this diagnostic framework does not adequately capture the dimensional nature of psychopathology. My program of research focuses on conceptualizing and assessing schizophrenia and bipolar psychopathology across broader continua of expression. Specifically, we have developed and explored multidimensional models of schizotypy as broader expressions of clinical and subclinical schizophrenic psychopathology, and dimensional models of bipolar spectrum psychopathology. My research team’s work has focused on developing and testing symptom, personality, neurocognitive, biobehavioral, daily life, and genetic associates of schizotypy and the bipolar spectrum. Dimensional models of psychopathology should facilitate discovery and understanding of etiological factors, provide a unique window for examining risk and resilience factors related to the development of disorders, and may ultimately hasten the development of prophylactic treatment interventions. Graduate and undergraduate student researchers play a major role in our work, and interested students are encouraged to apply to work in our lab.
Schizotypy and Schizophrenia
These studies focus on developing and testing symptom, trait, cognitive, biobehavioral, and genetic markers of schizophrenia and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders from experimental and developmental psychopathology perspectives. This program of research traces its roots back to Paul Meehl's landmark work on schizophrenia and schizotypy and to the pioneering work on psychosis proneness by the Chapmans. Specifically, this work focuses on identifying individuals who are at risk for developing schizophrenia or related conditions. Current projects and publications include:
Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale - We recently developed the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS) and the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief (MSS-B). These are questionnaires that assess positive, negative, and disorganized schizotpy. See dropdown menu above. Sample publications include:
Multidimensional Structure of Schizotypy – A major focus of our work involves the conceptualization and assessment of schizotypy as a multidimensional construct. Schizotypy (and by extension schizophrenia) are heterogeneous constructs that have a multidimensional structure that is associated with distinct patterns of etiology, psychopathology, and treatment response. Sample publications include:
Nature and Expression of Schizotypy – My laboratory’s research includes studies examining the nature, development, and expression of schizotypy. Sample publications include:
Schizotypy and Memory – We currently collaborate with Prof. Lili Sahakyan on studies of schizotypy and episodic memory. We also collaborate with Profs. Michael Kane and Paul Silvia on an NIMH-funded project, Executive Control and Schizotypy in the Laboratory and Daily Life, that examines working memory deficits in schizotypy. Sample publications include:
Longitudinal Assessment of Psychometric Schizotypes, At-Risk Mental State Patients, First-Episode Patients, and Relatives. My laboratory is collaborating with Prof. Neus Barrantes-Vidal at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona on a series of grant-funded studies examining environmental and genetic risk factors in the development of psychosis. Sample publications include:
Bipolar Spectrum Psychopathology
These studies examine the development and expression of hyperthymia and bipolar-spectrum disorders. This work focuses on a spectrum approach for understanding bipolar psychopathology, rather than relying on categorical diagnostic models. These studies integrate interview, questionnaire, and experience sampling assessments. Sample publications include:
Assessment of Psychopathology in Daily Life
In addition to the experience sampling studies of schizotypy and bipolar spectrum psychopathology listed above, we have conducted a variety of studies examine the expression of cognition, affect, personality, and psychopathology in daily life. Sample publications include:
Traditional models of mental illness have conceptualized psychopathology using categorical diagnoses. However, this diagnostic framework does not adequately capture the dimensional nature of psychopathology. My program of research focuses on conceptualizing and assessing schizophrenia and bipolar psychopathology across broader continua of expression. Specifically, we have developed and explored multidimensional models of schizotypy as broader expressions of clinical and subclinical schizophrenic psychopathology, and dimensional models of bipolar spectrum psychopathology. My research team’s work has focused on developing and testing symptom, personality, neurocognitive, biobehavioral, daily life, and genetic associates of schizotypy and the bipolar spectrum. Dimensional models of psychopathology should facilitate discovery and understanding of etiological factors, provide a unique window for examining risk and resilience factors related to the development of disorders, and may ultimately hasten the development of prophylactic treatment interventions. Graduate and undergraduate student researchers play a major role in our work, and interested students are encouraged to apply to work in our lab.
Schizotypy and Schizophrenia
These studies focus on developing and testing symptom, trait, cognitive, biobehavioral, and genetic markers of schizophrenia and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders from experimental and developmental psychopathology perspectives. This program of research traces its roots back to Paul Meehl's landmark work on schizophrenia and schizotypy and to the pioneering work on psychosis proneness by the Chapmans. Specifically, this work focuses on identifying individuals who are at risk for developing schizophrenia or related conditions. Current projects and publications include:
Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale - We recently developed the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS) and the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief (MSS-B). These are questionnaires that assess positive, negative, and disorganized schizotpy. See dropdown menu above. Sample publications include:
- Kwapil, T.R., Gross, G.M., Silvia, P.J., Raulin, M.L., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2018). Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale and Multidiimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief: Scale and Manual.
- Gross, G.M., Kwapil, T.R., Burgin, C.J., Raulin, M.L., Silvia, P.J., Kemp, K.C., Barrantes-Vidal, N. (in press). Validation of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief in two large samples. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment.
- Kwapil, T.R., Gross, G.M. Burgin, C.J., Raulin, M.L., Silvia, P.J., Barrantes-Vidal, N. (in press). Validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale: Associations with schizotypal traits and normal personality. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, & Treatment.
- Gross, G.M., Kwapil, T.R., Raulin, M.L., Silvia, P.J., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2018). The Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale-Brief: Scale development and psychometric properties. Psychiatry Research, 216, 7-13.
- Kwapil, T.R., Gross, G.M., Silvia, P.J., Raulin, M.L., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2018). Development and psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale: A new measure for assessing positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy. Schizophrenia Research, 193, 209-217.
Multidimensional Structure of Schizotypy – A major focus of our work involves the conceptualization and assessment of schizotypy as a multidimensional construct. Schizotypy (and by extension schizophrenia) are heterogeneous constructs that have a multidimensional structure that is associated with distinct patterns of etiology, psychopathology, and treatment response. Sample publications include:
- Christensen, A.P., Kenett, Y.N., Aste, T., Silvia, P.J., & Kwapil, T.R. (in press). Network Structure of the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales-Short Forms: Examining Psychometric Network Filtering Approaches. Behavior Research Methods.
- Gross, G.M., Mellin, J., Silvia, P.J., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2014). Comparing the factor structure of the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 5, 397-405.
- Kwapil, T.R., Ros-Morente, A., Silvia, P.J., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2012). Factor invariance of psychometric schizotypy in Spanish and American samples. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 34, 145–152.
- Brown, L.H., Silvia, P.J., Myin-Germeys, I., Lewandowski, K.E., & Kwapil, T.R. (2008). The relationship of social anxiety and social anhedonia to psychometrically identified schizotypy. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 27, 127-149.
- Kwapil, T.R., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Silvia, P.J. (2008). The dimensional structure of the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales: Factor identification and construct validity. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 34, 444-457.
Nature and Expression of Schizotypy – My laboratory’s research includes studies examining the nature, development, and expression of schizotypy. Sample publications include:
- Barrantes-Vidal, N., Grant, P., & Kwapil, T.R. (2015). The role of schizotypy in the study of the etiology of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 41 (suppl 2): S408-S416 doi:10.1093/schbul/sbu191.
- Kwapil, T.R., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2015). Schizotypy: Looking back and moving forward. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 41 (suppl 2): S366-S373 doi:10.1093/schbul/sbu186
- Kwapil, T.R., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2012). Schizotypal personality disorder: An integrative review. In T.A. Widiger (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Personality Disorders (pp. 437-477). Oxford: University Press.
- Silvia, P.J., & Kwapil, T.R. (2011). Aberrant asociality: How individual differences in social anhedonia illuminate the need to belong. Journal of Personality, 79, 1315-1332.
- Barrantes-Vidal, N., Lewandowski, & Kwapil, T.R. (2010). Psychopathology, Social Adjustment and Personality Correlates of Schizotypy Clusters in a Large Non-clinical Sample. Schizophrenia Research, 122, 219-225.
- Barrantes-Vidal, N., Morente, A.R., & Kwapil, T.R. (2009). Neuroticism as a moderating factor in the association of schizotypy dimensions and psychopathology in a non-clinical sample. Schizophrenia Research, 115, 303-309.
- Kaczorowski, J.A., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2009). Neurological soft signs in psychometrically identified schizotypy. Schizophrenia Research, 115, 293-302.
Schizotypy and Memory – We currently collaborate with Prof. Lili Sahakyan on studies of schizotypy and episodic memory. We also collaborate with Profs. Michael Kane and Paul Silvia on an NIMH-funded project, Executive Control and Schizotypy in the Laboratory and Daily Life, that examines working memory deficits in schizotypy. Sample publications include:
- Sahakyan, L., & Kwapil, T.R. (in press). Episodic memory retrieval is impaired in negative schizotypy under fast response deadline. Schizophrenia Research.
- Sahakyan, L., & Kwapil, T.R. (in press). Moving beyond summary scores: Decomposing free recall performance to understand episodic memory deficits in schizotypy. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
- Sahakyan, L., & Kwapil, T.R. (2016). Positive and negative schizotypy are associated with differential patterns of episodic memory impairment. Schizophrenia Research Cognition, 5, 35-40.
- Kane, M.J., Meier, M.E., Smeekens, B.A., Gross, G.M., Chun, C.A., Silvia, P.J., & Kwapil, T.R. (2016). Individual differences in the executive control of attention, memory, and thought, and their associations with schizotypy. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 145, 1017-1048
Longitudinal Assessment of Psychometric Schizotypes, At-Risk Mental State Patients, First-Episode Patients, and Relatives. My laboratory is collaborating with Prof. Neus Barrantes-Vidal at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona on a series of grant-funded studies examining environmental and genetic risk factors in the development of psychosis. Sample publications include:
- Barrantes-Vidal, N., Gross, G., Sheinbaum, T., Mitjavila, M., Ballespi, S., & Kwapil, T.R. (2013). Positive and negative schizotypy are associated with prodromal and schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms. Schizophrenia Research, 145, 50-55.
Bipolar Spectrum Psychopathology
These studies examine the development and expression of hyperthymia and bipolar-spectrum disorders. This work focuses on a spectrum approach for understanding bipolar psychopathology, rather than relying on categorical diagnostic models. These studies integrate interview, questionnaire, and experience sampling assessments. Sample publications include:
- Sperry, S.H., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2018). The association of affective temperaments and bipolar spectrum psychopathology: An experience sampling study. Motivation and Emotion, 42, 126-136
- Sperry, S.H., & Kwapil, T.R. (2017). What can daily life assessment tell us about the bipolar spectrum? Psychiatry Research, 252, 51-56.
- Sperry, S.H., Walsh, M.A., & Kwapil, T.R. (2015). Measuring the validity and psychometric properties of a short form of the Hypomanic Personality Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 82, 52-57.
- Walsh, M.A., DeGeorge, D.P., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2015). A 3-year longitudinal study of risk for bipolar spectrum psychopathology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 124, 486-497.
- DeGeorge, D.P., Walsh, M.A., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2014). A three-year longitudinal study of affective temperaments and risk for psychopathology. Journal of Affective Disorders, 164, 94-100.
- Walsh, M.A., Royal, A.M., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2012). The association of affective temperaments with impairment and psychopathology in a young adult sample. Journal of Affective Disorders, 141, 373-381.
- Walsh, M.A., Royal, A., Brown, L.H., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2012). Looking for bipolar spectrum psychopathology: Identification and expression in daily life. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53, 409-421.
Assessment of Psychopathology in Daily Life
In addition to the experience sampling studies of schizotypy and bipolar spectrum psychopathology listed above, we have conducted a variety of studies examine the expression of cognition, affect, personality, and psychopathology in daily life. Sample publications include:
- Sperry, S.H., Lynam, D.R., & Kwapil, T.R. (in press). The convergence and divergence of impulsivity facets in daily life. Journal of Personality.
- Chun, C.A., Barrantes-Vidal, N., Sheinbaum, T., & Kwapil, T.R. (2017). Expression of schizophrenia-spectrum personality traits in daily life. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 8, 64-74.
- Eddington, K.M., Burgin, C.J., Silvia, P.J., Fallah, N., Majestic, C.M., & Kwapil, T.R. (2017). The effects of psychotherapy for major depressive disorder on daily mood and functioning: A longitudinal experience sampling study. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 41, 266-277.
- Cristóbal-Narváez, P., Sheinbaum, T., Rosa, A., Ballespí, S., de Castro-Catala, M., Peña, E., Kwapil, T.R., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2016). The interaction between childhood bullying and the FKBP5 gene on psychotic-like experiences and stress reactivity in real life. PLoS ONE, 11.
- Sheinbaum, T., Kwapil, T.R., Ballespí, S., Mitjavila, M., Chun, C.A., Silvia, P.J., & Barrantes-Vidal, N. (2015). Attachment style predicts affect, cognitive appraisals, and social functioning in daily life. Frontiers in Psychology. 6:296.
- Hundt, N.E., Brown, L.H., Kimbrel, N.A., Armistead, M.S., Nelson-Gray, R., & Kwapil, T.R. (2013). Reinforcement sensitivity theory predicts positive and negative affect in daily life. Personality and Individual Differences, 54, 350-354.
- Brown, L.H., Strauman, T.J., Barrantes-Vidal, N., & Kwapil, T.R. (2011). An experience sampling study of depressive symptoms and their social context. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 199, 403-409.
