The aim of the present study is to examine attentional costs (inhibiti
on) in covert visual attention in a group of acutely ill adolescents w
ith schizophrenia without long histories of neuroleptic treatment. Var
iations in reaction time were analyzed for possible age and sex differ
ences. Adolescents with schizophrenia (n = 19) were compared to a grou
p of ADHD subjects (n=20) and a group of normally functioning adolesce
nts (n=30) on a measure of covert visual attention. The results suppor
t a hypothesis of abnormally rapid disengagement (reduced costs) in ma
le adolescents with schizophrenia. Such an abnormality has also been f
ound in adults with chronic schizophrenia. Whether this holds true for
both sexes of adolescents with schizophrenia or is restricted to male
subjects cannot be answered with certainty due to the small number of
females with schizophrenia in our sample. Our findings indicate, howe
ver, that there are some general sex differences and some specific sex
differences related to covert visual attention in adolescents with sc
hizophrenia. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.