LATERALIZED ATTENTIONAL DEFICITS IN DRUG-FREE AND MEDICATED SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Performance on a cued reaction time (RT) task, theoretically linked to posterior and anterior neuroanatomical systems in the brain (Posner, M. I. et al., Science, 1988, 210, 1627-1631; Archives of General Psych iatry, 1988, 15, 811-821), was used to assess sensory orienting and ma intenance of attention. In schizophrenic patients, Posner ei al. found a lateralized abnormality in RT (longer RTs to uncued targets in the right visual field than in the left visual field), as did Maruff et al . (Neuropsychologia, 1995, 33, 1205-1223), but Strauss et al. (Journal of Psychiatric Research, 1991, 37, 139-146), among others, did not re plicate this effect. However, the subjects in these studies differed i n the percentage of schizophrenic patients taking neuroleptic medicati on at the time of testing and in the chronicity of the illness. In the present study, we used two groups of schizophrenic subjects to contro l for the use of neuroleptic medication. The lateralized abnormality i n RT was observed in the drug-free group of schizophrenic subjects, bu t not in the group of drug-treated schizophrenic subjects. (C) 1997 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.