Background & Aims : Dimensional approach assumes the psychosis symptoms to be exaggerated manifestation of personality traits that have a continuous distribution in a population. It represents schizotypy as continuously distributed traits. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychotic like symptoms schizotypal personality disorder focusing on age and gender differences.

  Materials &Methods : This descriptive-cross sectional study was conducted on 749 normal students of Shiraz University. The participants answered to schizotypal personality scale (STA).

  Results : Distribution rates of the schizotypal personality features and its components were reported with regard on age and gender differences. Females were characterized by higher scores on whole STA and paranoid suspiciousness/social anxiety and magical thinking factors. The results of this study also showed the effect of age is neglectable in university age samples. 

  Conclusions : The findings of this research provide more research-based confirmations for dimensional model of psychosis .     

  Source: Urmia Med J 2011: 22(5): 485 ISSN: 1027-3727