Additional Support for the Cognitive Model of Schizophrenia: Evidence of Elevated Defeatist Beliefs in Schizotypy

Abstract

Objectives The cognitive model of poor functioning in schizophrenia posits that defeatist performance beliefs—overgeneralized negative beliefs about one's ability to perform tasks—develop prior to the onset of psychosis and contribute to the development and maintenance of negative symptoms and poor functioning. Although several studies with schizophrenia samples have provided support for the model, there is a paucity of research investigating these beliefs in individuals with schizotypy—those exhibiting traits reflecting a putative genetic liability for schizophrenia. This study had two aims: to examine whether defeatist performance beliefs (1) are elevated in schizotypy compared to controls and (2) are associated with decreased quality of life and working memory and increased negative but not positive schizotypy traits in the schizotypy group. Methods Schizotypy (n = 48) and control (n = 53) groups completed measures of schizotypy traits, defeatist performance beliefs, quality of life, and working memory. Results Analyses revealed that the schizotypy group reported significantly more defeatist performance beliefs than the control group. Within the schizotypy group, increased defeatist performance beliefs were significantly associated with greater negative schizotypy traits and lower quality of life. No significant associations were observed between defeatist performance beliefs and positive schizotypy traits and working memory. Conclusions Results generally support the theoretical validity of the cognitive model of poor functioning in schizophrenia and suggest that elevated defeatist performance beliefs may contribute to the manifestation of subclinical negative symptom traits and reduced quality of life among those with a latent vulnerability for schizophrenia.