Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T08:26:44.664Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Changes in appearance and schizotypy in normal subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

Joost à Campo ,
Henk Nijman  and
Harald Merckelbach
Joost à Campo*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Hospital Mondriaan, Heerlen
Henk Nijman
Affiliation:
Forensic Psychiatric Hospital de Kijvelanden, Poortugaal
Harald Merckelbach
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
*
Joost à Campo, Mondriaan Zorggroep PO Box 4436, 6401 CX, Heerlen, Netherlands. Tel: 31455736135; Fax: 31455741277; E-mail: campo@home.nl
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Anecdotal reports suggest that drastic changes in physical appearance may signal psychotic decompensation in schizophrenic patients.

Objective:

The current study sought to explore the association between changes in appearance and psychotic vulnerability in a more systematic fashion.

Methods:

A sample of undergraduates (n = 171) completed the Changes in Appearance Scale (CAS), which assesses frequency and nature of changes in outlook, along with a Schizotypy Scale (STA), the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), the Fear Questionnaire (FQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Results:

A modest but significant correlation was found between the CAS and STA scores. For the other symptom measures (MOCI, FQ, and BDI), no association with self-reported changes in physical appearance emerged.

Conclusions:

Changes in physical appearance are found to be significantly associated to mild (pre)psychotic symptoms.

Keywords

physical appearancepsychosisschizophreniaschizotypy
Type
Original Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , June 2004 , pp. 138 - 141
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Blackwell Munksgaard

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Strawn, K, Ryken, T, Black, DW. Extreme haircutting and psychosis. Am J Psychiatry 1987;144: 1102–1103.Google ScholarPubMed
Markowitz, J. More on haircutting and psychosis. Am J Psychiatry 1988;145: 271–272.Google ScholarPubMed
Feldmann, TB, Paynter, CN. Further examination of extreme haircutting and psychosis. Am J Psychiatry 1988;145: 395. Google Scholar
Ryken, T, Merrel, A. Haircutting and psychosis revisited. J Clin Psychiatry 1990;51: 83.Google ScholarPubMed
à Campo, JMLG, Merckelbach, HLGJ. Schizofrene patiënten en haardracht [Schizophrenia and drastic changes in hairstyle]. Tijdschrift Voor Psychiatrie [Dutch J Psychiatry] 1996;38: 690–695. Google Scholar
Arnold, VK, Rosenthal, TL, Dupont, RT, Hilliard, D. Redundant clothing. A readily observable marker for schizophrenia in the psychiatric emergency room population. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 1993;24: 45–47.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
à Campo, JMLG, Frederikx, M, Nijman, HLI, Merckelbach, HLGJ. Schizophrenia and changes in physical appearance. J Clin Psychiatry 1998;59: 197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
à Campo, JMLG, Nijman, HLI, Evers, C, Merckelbach, HL GJ, Decker, I. Genderidentiteisstoornissen als bijverschijnsel van psychose, in het bijzonder schizofrenie [Gender-Identity-Disorders as a symptom of psychosis, schizophrenia in particular]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd [Dutch J Med] 2001;145: 1876–1880. Google Scholar
à Campo, JMLG, Nijman, HLI, Merckelbach, HGJL, Evers, C. Psychiatric Comorbidity of Gender Identity Disorders; A Survey Among Dutch Psychiatrists. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160: 1332–1336.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Claridge, G, Broks, P. Schizotypy and hemisphere function – I; theoretical considerations and the measurement of schizotypy. Pers Individ Dif 1984;5: 633–648. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hewitt, JK, Claridge, G. The factor structure of schizotypy in a normal population. Pers Individ Dif 1989; 10: 323–329. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rachman, S, Hodgson, RJ. Obsessions and Compulsions. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. Google Scholar
Marks, IM, Mathews, AM. Brief standard self rating for fobic patients. Behav Res Ther 1979;17: 263–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beck, AT, Ward, CH, Mendelsohn, M, Mock, J, Erbaugh, J. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch General Psychiatr 1961;18: 53–63. Google Scholar
à Campo, JMLG, Nijman, HLI, Merckelbach, HLGJ. Changes in appearance and psychosis. Psychiatry Interpers Biol Processes 2001;64: 165–167. CrossRefGoogle Scholar