Components of schizophrenia liability affect the growth of psychological stress sensitivity following major life events

Schizophr Res. 2019 Oct:212:134-139. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.07.056. Epub 2019 Aug 3.

Abstract

Background: Some argue that physiological and psychological stress sensitivities contribute causally to schizophrenia. Indeed, evidence shows that those with or at risk for schizophrenia have highly sensitive stress responses. However, it is unclear how psychological stress sensitivity develops. Our aim was to test whether psychological stress sensitization develops longitudinally in association with major life events and components of schizophrenia liability. We expected schizophrenia liability to predict higher psychological stress sensitivity; life events to predict subsequent increases in psychological stress sensitivity; and schizophrenia liability to moderate this relationship.

Methods: In a prospective study, undergraduates (n = 184) completed a measure of schizophrenia liability at baseline. Then at 2-month intervals over 6 months, they reported on the occurrence of major life events and completed measures of psychological stress sensitivity.

Results: Latent variable growth modelling showed that stress sensitivity increased following incident life events when controlling for baseline life events. Higher cognitive-perceptual and interpersonal scores predicted higher baseline sensitivity. Higher cognitive-perceptual features predicted larger increases in psychological stress sensitivity following life events whereas greater disorganization reduced growth.

Conclusions: This evidence is consistent with the idea that psychological sensitization is involved in the development of schizophrenia and suggests an important link between positive features of schizophrenia liability and the magnification of psychological stress sensitivity.

Keywords: Daily hassles; Growth modelling; Major life events; Schizophrenia; Schizotypy; Stress sensitivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Disease Susceptibility / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events*
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology*
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*
  • Young Adult