COMPARATIVE-ASSESSMENT OF SACCADIC EYE-MOVEMENTS, PSYCHOMOTOR AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN SCHIZOPHRENICS, THEIR FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVES ANDCONTROL SUBJECTS

This study is aimed at detecting biological markers for schizophrenia. For this purpose, a total of 70 subjects (21 schizophrenic patients, 27 first-degree relatives and 22 controls) performed a series of tests assessing various attentional, psychomotor and cognitive functions an d saccadic eye movements. The schizophrenics performed significantly p oorer than both high-risk and control subjects in most of the tests de manding attention, concentration and psychomotor speed (d2 concentrati on test, reaction times and Stroop test of perceptual interference) as well as cognition (Wechsler intelligence scales). On the other hand, these tests did not differentiate between the high-risk and control su bjects. This distinction, however, could be made by two other paramete rs: hypometria score of saccadic eye movements and ratio of verbal to performance intelligence scores. Both parameters were significantly in creased in both the schizophrenic and the high-risk group, distinguish ing both from the control group. The relevance of these findings in in dicating a schizophrenic disposition is discussed.