Browsing by Author "Stanghellini, Giovanni"

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    Autism Rating Scale: A New Tool for Characterizing the Schizophrenia Phenotype
    (Frontiers Media, 2021-01-26) Palumbo, Davide; Stanghellini, Giovanni; Mucci, Armida; Ballerini, Massimo; Giordano, Giulia Maria; Lysaker, Paul H.; Galderisi, Silvana; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Social dysfunctions (SD) are frequently observed in subjects with schizophrenia. Some of these dysfunctions are also observed in other neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), major depression, bipolar disorder, or Alzheimer disease. Recently, a characterization of a specific type of SD in schizophrenia has been proposed, with the concept of dis-sociality, which form the core aspect of “Schizophrenic Autism” (SA). The present study aimed to explore the presence in people with schizophrenia of SA, independent of other autistic traits, which can be often found in schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. We used a structured interview—the Autism Rating Scale (ARS), an instrument devised to detect and measure SA. Fifty-one outpatients affected by schizophrenia (26 remitted, SCZ-r) and 28 affected by bipolar disorder type 1, with psychotic features, in the euthymic phase (BD-e) were recruited. Before assessing the specificity for schizophrenia of SA, we tested the internal consistency, the convergent and divergent validity of the ARS in the schizophrenia sample. Specificity was assessed by examining potential differences in ARS scores between SCZ-r and BD-e subjects. ARS showed good internal consistency, as well as convergent and divergent validity. ARS items were more frequently of moderate severity in SCZ-r than in BD-e subjects. This scale can contribute to establish more precise phenomenal boundaries between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and opens up the possibility of identifying a different type of SD in schizophrenia, independent of autistic traits and negative symptoms, which might benefit from different treatments.
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    Interpretation, emotional reactions and daily life implications of hallucination-like experiences in clinical and nonclinical populations
    (2015) Langer, Álvaro I.; Stanghellini, Giovanni; Cangas, Adolfo J.; Lysaker, Paul H.; Nieto-Muñoz, Luz; Moriana, Juan A.; Barrigón, María L.; Ambrosini, Alessandra; Department of Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine
    Background: Research on Hallucination-Like Experiences (HLEs) has not yet explored whether people without psychosis who have HLEs attribute the same level of significance to them. This significance includes whether or not the HLEs elicit similar emotional reactions in people with and without psychosis, or if the HLEs occur in same context between the two groups. The objective of this study was to compare the characteristics of these experiences in a non-clinical group and a clinical group of patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Method: Both groups were evaluated to determine the prevalence of HLEs. After the evaluation, they were interviewed about the characteristics of these experiences. Results: Both groups sought to actively eliminate the HLEs, could identify the presence of a trigger factor, and experienced little perceived control. However, HLEs elicited more anxiety, discomfort and interference in daily life in the clinical group than in the non-clinical group. Furthermore, the clinical group members defined their hallucinations more negatively and were reported to have experienced them under stressful events. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the two experiences are not entirely equivalent, especially when taking into account the emotional reaction produced by these experiences and the meaning people attach to them.
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    Metacognition in schizophrenia disorders: Comparisons with community controls and bipolar disorder: Replication with a Spanish language Chilean sample
    (Elsevier, 2018-09) Lysaker, Paul H.; Irarrázaval, Leonor; Gagen, Emily C.; Armijo, Ivan; Ballerini, Massimo; Mancini, Milena; Stanghellini, Giovanni; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Metacognition refers to the activities which allow for the availability of a sense of oneself and others in the moment. Research mostly in North America with English-speaking samples has suggested that metacognitive deficits are present in schizophrenia and are closely tied to negative symptoms. Thus, replication is needed in other cultures and groups. The present study accordingly sought to replicate these findings in a Spanish speaking sample from Chile. Metacognition and symptoms were assessed among 26 patients with schizophrenia, 26 with bipolar disorder and 36 community members without serious mental illness. ANCOVA controlling for age and education revealed that the schizophrenia group had greater levels of metacognitive deficits than the bipolar disorder and community control groups. Differences in metacognition between the clinical groups persisted after controlling for symptom levels. Spearman correlations revealed a unique pattern of associations of metacognition with negative and cognitive symptoms. Results largely support previous findings and provide added evidence of the metacognitive deficits present in schizophrenia and the link to outcome cross culturally. Implications for developing metacognitively oriented interventions are discussed.