EMOTION DYSREGULATION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND COMORBID PTSD

Abstract

Objectives: Emotion dysregulation is relevant to the etiology of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The present thesis determined (1) the associations among emotion dysregulation, positive, negative, PTSD, and depressive symptoms; (2) examined the interaction between emotion dysregulation and cognitive insight in predicting psychopathology among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Methods: A total of 150 outpatients with early schizophrenia spectrum disorders were recruited. An overall cross-sectional design was utilized, and participants completed self-report measures and were clinically assessed for positive and negative symptoms.

Results: Overall, emotion dysregulation was strongly associated with severe psychopathology. Emotion dysregulation as a whole mediated the effects of probable PTSD on depressive symptoms, and this pathway extended to positive symptoms. Poor cognitive insight interacted with global emotion dysregulation to predict more severe depressive and intrusive symptoms.

Conclusions: Emotion dysregulation and cognitive insight should be considered in the formulation and treatment of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and comorbid PTSD.