A twin study of genetic and environmental aetiologies of associations between sensory processing sensitivity and psychotic-like experiences

BackgroundIndividual differences in Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) indicate variation in depth of information processing, emotional and empathic reactivity, and sensitivity to subtle environmental details. Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are non-clinical psychotic symptoms (usually occasional, mild hallucinations and delusions). This study tested the associations between SPS and PLEs, and whether associations between PLEs and neuroticism and stressful life events are moderated by SPS.MethodsA sample of 2888 adolescent twins, from the Twins Early Development Study, were assessed longitudinally at 16, 21 and 26 years. The phenotypic and aetiological associations of SPS and PLEs were studied using twin model fitting. Additionally, the interaction between SPS and life events in determining PLEs was studied longitudinally. Results All tested PLEs were significantly associated with SPS. The largest point estimates were for associations between SPS and Paranoia, Hallucinations, and Cognitive Disorganization (Bs: 0.14 – 0.30). AE models with Cholesky decomposition showed that genetic influences on SPS accounted for 23%-71% of phenotypic correlations between SPS and PLEs Paranoia, Hallucinations and Cognitive Disorganisation, beyond Neuroticism. Longitudinally, SPS moderated the association between number of stressful life events and experienced PLEs (i.e., Paranoia, Hallucinations and Hedonia). ConclusionsThis study is the first to demonstrate phenotypic and aetiological associations between SPS and PLEs. The results further indicate that the longitudinal association between stressful life events (another known PLE risk factors) and PLEs is genetically moderated by SPS.KeywordsSensory Processing Sensitivity; Psychotic-Like Experiences; Stressful Life Events; Twin Design; Longitudinal