30 schizophrenic outpatients (RDC) under neuroleptic maintenance treatment completed a visuomotor tracking task with four degrees of difficulty. The mean efficiency of performance was measured in bit per second from the difference between the target signal and the tracking signal. Clinical assessment was accomplished with the BPRS, CGI, and GAS. Besides generally poorer tracking performance in schizophrenics compared with healthy volunteers the main finding was a relationship between tracking performance and psychopathological subtyping. Negative symptoms were related to a generally lowered task performance, irrespective of task difficulty. However, this effect disappeared by controlling for illness duration. On the other hand, there was a syndrome-specific interaction effect with task difficulty: Schizophrenics with positive symptoms performed poorly, especially in the most difficult task condition. Generally, there was no significant relationship between daily neuroleptic dose and tracking performance. Results are discussed with respect to a differential deficit in attention in schizophrenic subgroups.

Keywords:
Schizophrenia, Psychopathological subtypes, Visuomotor tracking, Attentional functioning
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1987 S. Karger AG, Basel
1987
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.