Participants were individuals identified as being ‘‘at risk’’ for psychosis (n
19), individuals early in the course of SSI (n21), individuals with chronic
SSI (n28), and healthy nonclinical control individuals (n21). The at-risk
group was comprised of help-seeking individuals who were recruited through
the UNC-Chapel Hill PRIME (Prevention through Risk Management and
Education) Clinic via community and campus advertisements and presentations,
and evaluated using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms
(SIPS) to ensure they met COPS (Criteria of Prodromal Sates) criteria
for a prodromal state (Miller et al., 2002). All at-risk individuals met
prodromal state criteria on the basis of attenuated positive symptoms, and
two individuals also met criteria for brief intermittent psychotic symptoms.
No individuals met the ‘‘trait and state’’ risk factor criteria defined as genetic
risk with functional deterioration, which includes changes in social
functioning. This is important, as any observed deficits in social skill in
the at-risk group will not be an artifact of the diagnostic criteria (i.e., a
decline in social functioning), but likely a reflection of true impairments in
social skill. The mean duration of prodromal symptoms was 3.46 (SD
4.17) years