Modelling the longitudinal associations between schizotypy and aberrant salience: The role of mentalization and attachment.

Objectives: This study investigates the role of mentalization and attachment in the development of schizotypy into aberrant salience. Specifically, we examine how disruptions in these socio-cognitive capacities interact with multidimensional schizotypy to influence self-fragmentation, emotional instability and social detachment.

Method: Study variables were measured using self-report scales. A two-wave cohort study design was implemented with a 9-month assessment interval. The cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between mentalizing, attachment, negative affect, aberrant salience and schizotypy were estimated using network modelling.

Results: The study involved 312 participants aged 18-37 years, with 77% identifying as female and 57% receiving mental health treatment during the follow-up period. Results indicated that mentalizing capacity was central in linking concurrent negative affect, attachment and psychosis risk and served as a temporal bridge connecting multiple dimensions of psychosis risk.

Conclusion: Mentalizing difficulties can heighten psychosis risk by maintaining affective dysregulation and consolidating schizotypy. The results may be influenced by potential sampling errors, as indicated by the analyses of network stability and accuracy. Interventions promoting mentalizing capacity may attenuate psychosis risk.