Lexical analysis in schizophrenia: How emotion and social word use informs our understanding of clinical presentation. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Minor, Kyle S.; Bonfils, Kelsey A.; Luther, Lauren; Firmin, Ruth L.; Kukla, Marina; MacLain, Victoria R.; Buck, Benjamin; Lysaker, Paul H.; Salyers, Michelle P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychiatric research. Volume 64(2015:May)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 78
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Schizophrenia -- Speech -- Negative emotion -- Social functioning -- Metacognition; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Maladies mentales -- Périodiques; Psychiatry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.02.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3956

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The words people use convey important information about internal states, feelings, and views of the world around them. Lexical analysis is a fast, reliable method of assessing word use that has shown promise for linking speech content, particularly in emotion and social categories, with psychopathological symptoms. However, few studies have utilized lexical analysis instruments to assess speech in schizophrenia. In this exploratory study, we investigated whether positive emotion, negative emotion, and social word use was associated with schizophrenia symptoms, metacognition, and general functioning in a schizophrenia cohort. Methods: Forty-six participants generated speech during a semi-structured interview, and word use categories were assessed using a validated lexical analysis measure. Trained research staff completed symptom, metacognition, and functioning ratings using semi-structured interviews. Results: Word use categories significantly predicted all variables of interest, accounting for 28% of the variance in symptoms and 16% of the variance in metacognition and general functioning. Anger words, a subcategory of negative emotion, significantly predicted greater symptoms and lower functioning. Social words significantly predicted greater metacognition. Conclusions: These findings indicate that lexical analysis instruments have the potential to play a vital role in psychosocial assessments of schizophrenia. Future research should replicate these findings and examine the relationship between word use and additional clinical variables across the schizophrenia-spectrum. Highlights: Lexical analysis tools are novel methods to assess speech in schizophrenia. Metacognition in patients with schizophrenia was predicted by social word use. Increased use of anger words predicted greater symptoms and lower functioning. Findings suggest that lexical analysis can yield vital information about patients. Social and emotion word use appears to be especially informative for schizophrenia.