Impaired prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle in schizophrenia

Background: Schizophrenics show deficits in sensorimotor gating, as measure d by prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle (PPI). The goal of this invest igation is to further characterize, PPI and habituation deficits in schizop hrenia, and to examine whether differing subgroups of schizophrenics would show conrparable PPI deficits. Methods: PPI was measured in 24 male schizophrenic subjects (9 acutely deco mpensated inpatients and 15 stable outpatients) and in 20 age-marched norma l control subjects, Schizophrenic subjects were rated for positive and nega tive symptoms at the time of testing, Results: Schizophrenic subjects showed deficits in prepulse inhibition and habituation as compared to normal subjects. Similar latency facilitation wa s produced by the prepulse ill both groups. Acutely decompensated inpatient s and stable outpatients did not differ in percent PPI. PPI did not con-ela te with severity of positive or negative symptoms. Conclusions: These results suggest that schizophrenic subjects have impaire d central inhibitory mechanisms as measured by PPI, and support the hypothe sis that periods of relative clinical remission are not accompanied by norm alization, of sensorimotor gating. (C) 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatr y.