Psychometric properties and concurrent validity of the Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale

The Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale (SAS) is a 19-item revision of the Intense Ambivalence Scale, which was designed to identify ambivalence described by Meehl as characteristic of schizotypy and schizophrenia. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the SAS in a sample of 997 college students. The study also provided preliminary evidence regarding the concurrent validity of the measure for identifying schizophreniclike symptoms and other forms of psychopathology in a sample of 131 students. The SAS has good internal consistency reliability (.84) and correlates moderately with other psychometric indices of schizotypy. High SAS scores were associated with schizotypal, schizoid, and paranoid symptoms, and with poorer overall functioning (after the removal of variance associated with other schizotypy scales), but were not associated with major depressive disorder or ratings of substance use and abuse.