Aberrant salience, self-concept clarity, and interview-rated psychotic-like experiences

J Pers Disord. 2015 Feb;29(1):79-99. doi: 10.1521/pedi_2014_28_150. Epub 2014 Aug 7.

Abstract

Many social-cognitive models of psychotic-like symptoms posit a role for self-concept and aberrant salience. Previous work has shown that the interaction between aberrant salience and self-concept clarity is associated with self-reported psychotic-like experiences. In the current research with two structured interviews, the interaction between aberrant salience and self-concept clarity was found to be associated with interview-rated psychotic-like experiences. The interaction was associated with psychotic-like experiences composite scores, delusional ideation, grandiosity, and perceptual anomalies. In all cases, self-concept clarity was negatively associated with psychotic-like experiences at high levels of aberrant salience, but unassociated with psychotic-like experiences at low levels of aberrant salience. The interaction was specific to positive psychotic-like experiences and not present for negative or disorganized ratings. The interaction was not mediated by self-esteem levels. These results provide further evidence that aberrant salience and self-concept clarity play an important role in the generation of psychotic-like experiences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Delusions / psychology*
  • Female
  • Hallucinations / psychology
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Models, Psychological*
  • Personality Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychotic Disorders / complications
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / diagnosis
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / psychology
  • Self Concept*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Students / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*