SACCADIC ABNORMALITIES IN PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS .1. NEUROLEPTIC-FREE PSYCHOTIC-PATIENTS

Most of the previous research reporting abnormalities of rapid re-fixa tion eye movements (saccades) in patients with schizophrenia has used patients receiving neuroleptic medication. In this study non-neurolept ically medicated schizophrenics were compared with other psychiatric p atients using a variety of saccadic paradigms to determine the specifi city of saccadic dysfunction. The patient groups consisted of schizoph renics (N = 18), bipolar affectives (N = 18), anxiety neurotics (N = 1 0) and normal controls (N = 31), none of whom had received neuroleptic medication for the preceding 6 months. Four behavioural paradigms, re flexive, predictive, remembered and ANTI were used to elicit saccades. The primary abnormality in the schizophrenic group was a significantl y increased rate of distractibility in the ANTI (saccades made towards the target rather than in an opposite direction) and REM (saccades ma de prior to the imperative cue) paradigms. The major neuropsychologica l variable predictive of these errors was Wisconsin card sort persever ative errors. These data, in conjunction with findings from previous n eurological research, would seem to provide converging evidence toward s dysfunction of prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.