Page 64 - JCBP-2-1

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Exteroceptive/interoceptive processing

these items at T1 and T2 . Differences between the two MANOVA demonstrated statistically significant differences
[37]
time points in the remaining MAIA and AASP domains at T1 but not at T2 (Table 3). Based on the MANOVA
were compared using a paired Student’s t-test . analysis, Mann–Whitney U-tests were performed to
[38]
As a secondary outcome, we compared MAIA and compare PSY-T1 and HC (Table 4). Regarding MAIA
AASP scores between PSY patients and HC at PSY-T1 and subscores, “Body listening” (p < 0.001, Bonferroni–Holm
PSY-T2 to examine the consistency of group differences P = 0.011) and “Noticing” (P < 0.001, Bonferroni–Holm
across both time points. MANOVA was used to compare P = 0.012) were increased in PSY-T1 compared to HC.
the two groups . Significantly different comparisons “Emotional awareness” (P = 0.017, Bonferroni–Holm
[39]
from MANOVA were further analyzed using the Mann– P > 0.05; PSY-T1 > HC) and “Not worrying” (P = 0.019,
Whitney non-parametric test due to violated normality Bonferroni–Holm P > 0.05; HC > PSY-T1) also exhibited
[40]
assumptions in the HC group. trends that did not survive the correction for multiple
comparisons. Regarding AASP scores, increased “Low
For completeness, results were reported at both the
uncorrected P ≤ 0.05 level and the multiple comparisons regulation” scores in PSY-T1 compared to HC exhibited
adjusted threshold of Bonferroni–Holm P ≤ 0.05 . borderline significance after correction for multiple
[41]
comparisons (P = 0.005, Bonferroni–Holm P = 0.050).
3. Results
4. Discussion
The demographic characteristics of the study groups are
shown in Table 1. Concerning within-group comparisons This study is the first to assess the stability of self-measured
in the PSY patient group, none of the MAIA or AASP interoceptive and exteroceptive indexes in psychosis
scores at T2 showed statistically significant differences at different time points. Our results demonstrate that
from T1 (all uncorrected P > 0.05) (Table 2). Conversely, perceptual profiles in participants with psychosis are more
the PANSS total score (P = 0.002, Bonferroni–Holm P stable over time compared to symptom severity from
= 0.032) and “Positive symptoms” subscores (P = 0.003, the post-acute to the remission phase. However, while
Bonferroni–Holm P = 0.045) were reduced at T2 compared perceptual profiles were stable when considered within
to T1 (Figure 1). “Negative symptoms” and “General the patient group, this stability was less evident in the
psychopathology” subscores also exhibited trends of comparison with the HC group.
improvement (“Negative symptoms”: P = 0.037, Bonferroni– Considering that psychosis is characterized by acute,
Holm P > 0.05; “General psychopathology”: P = 0.009, intermittent phases, the fluctuations in perceptual indexes
Bonferroni–Holm P > 0.05), suggesting greater variations in displayed by patients suggest the presence of two major
clinical symptoms compared to perceptual profiles. components. The first one is a trait perceptual feature
Concerning the secondary analysis, i.e., comparisons that persists through time. All the perceptual scores that
between the PSY patient and HC groups (Figure 2), the did not show differences either at T1 or T2 followed this

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of patients with psychosis in this study

Demographic characteristics PSY patients (N=23) HC (N=210)
PSY‑T1 PSY‑T2
Age (mean [SD], years) 38.35 (12.46) 39.81 (13.78)
Female (n [%]) 13 (55.5) 100 (46.70)
Diagnosis (n [%])
Non-affective psychosis (n [%]) 9 (39.2) /
Affective psychosis (n [%]) 11 (47.8) /
Substance-induced psychosis (n [%]) 3 (13.0) /
Duration of illness (mean [SD], days) 1648.87 (2525.16) /
Antipsychotic dosage (olanzapine equivalents) (mean [SD], mg/day) 20.38 (6.58) /
Antidepressant dosage (fluoxetine equivalents) (mean [SD], mg/day) 2.51 (6.64) /
Benzodiazepine dosage (diazepam equivalents) (mean [SD], mg/day) 5.05 (6.12) /
PANSS total at T0 (acute phase) (mean [SD]) 83.73 (15.73) /
Abbreviations: HC: Health controls; PANSS: Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale; PSY patients: Patients with psychosis; PSY-T1: Scores of patients
with psychosis during post-acute phase; PSY-T2: Scores of patients with psychosis during remission phase; SD: Standard deviation.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.1764