Research Article

The Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids: A Useful Measure of Childhood Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Table 3

Obliquely rotated factor loadings on two schizotypal factors extracted from the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK).

MASK itemFactor 1Factor 2

Has/displays difficulties completing fine motor tasks (e.g., has trouble writing neatly)0.993
Has/displays difficulties when fine motor skills are required (e.g., manipulating, buttons, tools, and utensils)0.934
Avoids eye contact during first session with clinician0.926
Bases conversation topics on own interests0.902
Has difficulty switching from own interests to other topics or activities0.897
Bases play themes on own interests0.867
Fails to demonstrate the reciprocal nature of conversation (e.g., does not take turns)0.867
Is clumsy while completing tasks0.860
Finds it difficult to communicate and socialise with other kids0.847
Has/displays difficulties learning new motor skills after repeated attempts0.807
Presents with difficulties self-directing focus of attention to salient information0.796
Is fidgety or restless0.791
Has difficulties doing gross motor tasks like riding a bike or playing sport0.786
Shows difficulty remaining focused on activities0.777
Experiences/displays feelings of unease or discomfort when meeting new people0.771
Feels/displays discomfort in situations where there are a lot of people around0.730
Has difficulty shifting from one focus of attention to another focus (e.g., difficulty giving two part answers on comprehension)0.710
Has difficulties sitting still or remaining seated0.698
Has difficulty attending to conversations0.690
Sticks to themselves in group situations (e.g., parties)0.667
Has few close friends that are not members of their immediate family0.665
Daydreaming distracts them from completing tasks0.628
Prefers to play alone rather than with friends0.628
Is disorganised when undertaking tasks0.595
Speech contains odd uses of intonation, rhythm, and stress, or these aspects are absent0.581
Has little difficulty entertaining themselves while alone0.479
Seems overly excited to share information0.439
Appears inappropriately happy or elated0.422
Speech is either overly concrete or overly abstract0.411
Interprets innocuous or irrelevant events as being personally salient0.942
Is paranoid or suspicious about innocuous or irrelevant events0.929
Is preoccupied with these fantasies to the point where behaviour is influenced0.910
Reports hearing voices/sounds that are not based on reality0.894
Describes a make-believe world or place as if it were real0.867
Has paranoid or suspicious ideas about the behaviour and motives of others0.861
Expresses odd or bizarre ideas in speech0.838
Imaginary characters, creatures, or events appear important to the child, more so than actual friends or events0.833
Is described by others as being peculiar or eccentric0.797
Refers to imaginary characters, creatures, or events0.776
Refers to a make-believe world or place0.764
Reports enhanced, altered, or perplexing hearing, sight, smell, or touch0.700
Displays signs of culturally odd or bizarre behaviour in social settings0.681
Shows difficulties sticking to one topic within sentences0.666
Loses track of what they are saying0.657
Appears resentful, irritable, or angry0.596
Reports seeing images/visions that are not based on reality0.589
Speech content is elaborated out of context, when others are no longer engaged in conversation0.580
Reports sensing smells or tactile sensations that are not based on reality0.545
Experiences vivid daydreams0.527
Content of speech deviates from original topic (tangential)0.515
Demonstrates incongruous or inappropriate facial expressions0.482
Believes they have super- or magical-powers0.448
Appears depressed, dejected, or downcast0.448
Describes mythical/cartoon characters depicted in stories and movies as if they are real0.413
Appears guarded and is reluctant to share personal information
Believes they have a sixth sense
Shows restricted range of facial expressions when engaging in a conversation

Note. Factor 1: social/pragmatic symptoms; Factor 2: positive schizotypal symptoms.