THE IMPORTANCE OF TEMPORAL STRUCTURE IN ANALYZING SCHIZOPHRENIC BEHAVIOR - SOME THEORETICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC IMPLICATIONS

THEME, a new method for analyzing the temporal structure of responding on a two-choice task, is described. This method reveals the time rela tionships (temporal patterns) between all response events, even those not occurring in direct sequence. It selects those temporal patterns t hat are significantly different (p < 0.0001) from the patterns found i n a random Poisson distribution of the same events. The method was app lied to data from Lyon et al. (1986) in which n=17 outpatient schizoph renics were compared with n=17 age-, sex-, and education-matched norma l control subjects. Results revealed that responding of schizophrenic outpatients, in comparison to control subjects, had a larger number of significant temporal patterns, more different types of patterns, and more branching (connectivity) of patterns at a higher level. The latte r indicates a higher degree of internal structure. These results are n ot predicted by standard (DSM-III-R) diagnostic procedures, but are in agreement with studies of two-choice behavior in schizophrenia based on the Lyon-Robbins (1975) theory of behavioral change, which has poss ible relationship to dopamine/acetylcholine imbalance in the brain. Di agnostic procedures in schizophrenia might benefit from tests oriented toward these findings, which are also consistent with Bleuler's origi nal descriptions of schizophrenic symptomatology.