NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL AND P300 ABNORMALITIES IN SCHIZOPHRENICS AND THEIRRELATIVES

Schizophrenic subjects (N = 30) performed less well than controls (N = 30) on neuropsychological tests sensitive to frontal and temporal lob e impairment and showed prolonged latency of the P300 event-related po tential. Relatives of schizophrenic probands were also tested. Relativ es with an abnormal P300 had a similar range of neuropsychological def icits as were found in the schizophrenic group and relatives with a no rmal P300 response performed as well as the normal control group. The results suggest that neurophysiological and neuropsychological testing of relatives may help to clarify the mode of inheritance of schizophr enia in some families.