Metacognitive deficits have been proposed as a transdiagnostic construct that may underpin the phenomenology of multiple mental health disorders. One study reviewed evidence supporting this including findings of heightened levels of metacognitive deficits in persons with relatively high levels of schizotypy and significant schizotypal personality disorder traits as well as evidence that these metacognitive disturbances in both schizotypy and schizotypal personal disorder are closely linked to function. 


Scripps College

Within the realm of psychology, etiology, or rather the study of necessary and sufficient causes, is important in understanding the intricacies of certain disorders

Etiology of Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Lysaker, P. H., & Wiesepape, C. N. (2023). Understanding the phenomenology of schizotypy and schizotypal personality disorder: An application of the integrative model of metacognition. In A dimensional approach to schizotypy: Conceptualization and treatment. (pp. 111–123). Springer Nature Switzerland AG. https://doi-org.ccl.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41788-7_8


Understanding the phenomenology of SPD

Recent research used tools, such as diffusion tensor imaging and NODDI, to examine putative white matter abnormalities and its relationship to social cognition. Upon concluding the study, the results showed that schizophrenics had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) within the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and splenium of the corpus callosum compared to healthy controls. In contrast, the SPD group had FA in these same regions that was intermediate to and significantly different from both groups. Group differences in FA could be attributed specifically to alterations in extracellular fiber coherence.

Neurological factors of SPD

Recent research suggests that neurocognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia may increase the risk of developing cognitive biases. In light of this,  Grimes et al. (2024) investigated neurocognition and found that there was no moderating effect of schizotypal traits on externalizing bias, but it was significantly associated with subsyndromal positive symptoms. Furthermore, only the externalizing bias was associated with subsyndromal positive symptomatology, which might be explained by a restricted range and reduced variance in performance as a result of using a university student sample. 

Neurocognitive Factors of SPD

Metacognitive deficits is a potentially informative construct that may underpin the foundation of multiple mental health disorders. In the case of SPD, recent research has shown that individuals with relatively high levels of schizotypy also exhibit heightened levels of metacognitive deficits. Moreover, evidence suggests that these metacognitive disturbances in SPD  are closely linked to function

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