Esther Bockwyt focuses on the previously under-researched risk factors and potential prodromal symptoms of untreated psychoses in the area of personality. She examines personality disorders and personality traits in psychotic illness and in the diagnosed early and late prodromal stages of schizophrenia, as well as in patients with other mental disorders, and compares the findings in terms of frequency and severity. A portion of the patients in the prodromal phase shows significantly higher rates of schizotypal and borderline personality disorders compared to the other groups, while no differences were found in the early prodromal stage when compared to the control group. The author, Esther Bockwyt, is a self-employed licensed psychologist specializing in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and legal psychology.