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Changes in appearance and psychosis

Anecdotal reports suggest that drastic changes in physical appearance may signal decompensation in schizophrenic patients. The current study sought to explore the association between changes in appearance and psychotic vulnerability in a systematic fashion. 171 undergraduates completed the Physical Appearance Scale (PAS) that assesses frequency and nature ofchanges in outlooks, along with a Schizotypy Scale (STA), the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), the Fear Questionnaire (FQ), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A modest but significant correlation was found between Physical Appearance Scale scores and STA‐scores. For the other symptom measures (i.e. MOCI, FQ and BDI), no association with changes in physical appearance emerged. The findings suggest that drastic changes of the physical are specifically linked to schizotypal dispositions and may point to a underlying vulnerability for developing schizophrenia. The clinical implications of the connection between marked changes in outlooks and psychosis are addressed.