IngentaConnect Impairment of exploratory eye movement in schizophrenia patients ...

Authors: Takahashi, Sakae; Tanabe, Eiichi¹; Yara, Kazuo¹; Matsuura, Masato²; Matsushima, Eisuke³; Kojima, Takuya¹

Source: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Volume 62, Number 5, October 2008 , pp. 487-493(7)

Abstract:

Aims:

Previous family, adoption and twin studies of schizophrenia have shown that genetic factors contribute significantly to the risk of schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether exploratory eye movement (EEM) abnormalities are related to the genetic markers linked to schizophrenia. Methods:

Twenty-three probands with schizophrenia, 23 of their healthy siblings (23 proband-sibling pairs), and 43 unrelated normal controls performed EEM tasks. Two parameters were measured: (i) number of eye fixations in responsive search (NEFRS) and (ii) responsive search score (RSS). Results:

Abnormalities in NEFRS and RSS were more frequent in schizophrenia probands than in their unaffected siblings and in normal controls, and were also more frequent in the healthy siblings than in normal controls. Thus, the EEM test performances of the healthy siblings were intermediate between those of the probands with schizophrenia and those of normal controls. Conclusion:

Abnormalities of the EEM test parameters may be related to the genetic etiology of schizophrenia. The use of EEM parameters as an endophenotype for schizophrenia may facilitate linkage and association studies in schizophrenia.

Keywords: etiology; exploratory eye movement; genetic factors; schizophrenia; siblings

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2008.01840.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nihon University, School of Medicine, 2: Section of Biofunctional Informatics, Graduate School of Allied Health Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University and 3: Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$50.16 plus tax Refund Policy

Impairment of exploratory eye movement in schizophrenia patients and their siblings