A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF EYE TRACKING DYSFUNCTION AND ATTENTION IN RECENT-ONSET SCHIZOPHRENIA

The effect of an attentional manipulation on eye tracking dysfunction (ETD) in the early stages of schizophrenia was examined in 34 recent-o nset schizophrenic patients and 24 demographically matched normal subj ects over a 1-year period. An attentional enhancement manipulation imp roved eye tracking performance of recent-onset schizophrenic patients more than that of normal subjects. Eye tracking level also was moderat ely stable for both groups over the course of 1 year. The possible rol e of attentional allocation in ETD highlights the need for further exa mination of the interface between attentional and eye tracking measure s of vulnerability to schizophrenia.