Validation of the aberrant salience inventory in a general and clinical Spanish population
Juan Francisco Rodríguez Testal, S. Fuentes-márquez, Cristina Senín‐calderón, Sandra Fernández-león, Celia Ceballos-munuera, Salvador Perona Garcelán, Eduardo Fonseca‐pedrero
Comprehensive Psychiatry August 18, 2022 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152343 via OpenAlex 5 citations
Summary
The Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) is a tool for measuring a psychological process linked to the onset of psychosis, where ordinary experiences become unusually noticeable or significant. A Spanish version of the ASI was tested in 6178 people, including 4523 adolescents, 1292 adults from the general population, and 363 patients with a mental health condition. The inventory worked similarly for men and women, and for both clinical and nonclinical groups. Scores tended to stabilize around age 19, suggesting a developmental change in motivation-related responses. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder had the highest average scores, supporting the inventory's value for evaluating abnormal motivation in schizophrenia.
Study at a glance
| Design | validation study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6,178 |
| Population | Spanish adolescents, general population adults, and patients with psychopathology |
| Key finding | The Spanish Aberrant Salience Inventory is a valid instrument for assessing aberrant salience, with patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder showing the highest scores. |
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The concept of aberrant salience is related to the onset of psychosis. Its study is important for early identification and possible intervention in processes activating later positive symptoms. OBJECTIVES: This study validated the Spanish Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) for adult and clinical populations. METHODS: The sample consisted of 6178 participants, of whom 4523 were adolescents, 1292 were general population adults and 363 were patients with a psychopathology. RESULTS: The evidence provided validates the instrument's structure. Invariance of measurement suggests that both men and women, patients and nonclinical population (adults and adolescents) interpreted the items on the ASI similarly. The distribution of scores by age also suggests stabilization of the trend at about 19 years of age, showing a developmental change in motivational response. The hypothesis that patients, and in particular, those diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and bipolar disorders would have the highest average scores in aberrant salience was met. CONCLUSIONS: This is a valuable instrument for evaluating a complex process related to abnormal motivation in the development of schizophrenia.