Mapping Schizotypy and Subthreshold Psychotic Experiences in a Resilience-Risk Network: Insights from a...

Under stress exposure, individuals in the general population may already experience subtle psychotic symptoms. Given that psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and schizotypal traits reflect a liability to developing manifest psychosis, understanding variability in psychological responses to adversity has become important. A resilience-focused framework is therefore crucial for advancing the understanding of the mechanisms underlying these symptom patterns. Here, we examined the mutual impact of resilience and risk factors on schizotypal traits and subthreshold psychotic symptoms.

This study is based on epidemiological data from the Zurich Early Recognition Program (ZInEP), a population sample (N  =  635) aged 20-41 years. Network analysis was used to investigate associations between resilience factors (self-efficacy, self-confidence, self-control, optimism, spirituality, adaptive coping), risk factors (perceived stress, chronic stress, childhood trauma, stigma, maladaptive coping), schizotypal traits, and PLEs.

Chronic stress and perceived stress showed more associations with PLEs and schizotypal traits than all resilience factors. Optimism showed more associations with psychopathology than other resilience factors. Chronic stress has the highest values across all centrality indices. Perceived stress and optimism showed high values in node and bridge strength but were in a lower range for expected influence, whereas self-efficacy and adaptive coping exhibited higher values.

Chronic stress emerged as the most prominent risk node, suggesting that its reduction through early prevention may have cascading effects across the symptom network. Optimism, adaptive coping, and self-efficacy may jointly contribute to stress regulation. These findings indicate that targeting a single factor is unlikely to influence overall symptom patterns.