Visual and Motor Functions in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction

Over the past decade, perceptual organization has gained an increasingly important role in the psychopathology of schizophrenia. With the advancements in visual neurocognitive sciences, visual processing, especially mid- and high-level processing have been linked with psychotic symptoms, as well as prodromal and ultra-high risk patients. Motor dysfunction is being seen as well as an integral element of schizophrenia, separate from the other symptoms and with possible implications for disease risk and outcome. This could illustrate two systems at work, which by either individual dysfunction or integrative disorganization help explain some the neurocognitive mechanisms in schizophrenia.

Objective and aims

The current study's argument is that tests from these two domains could be used in a complementary manner to offer a neurocognitive characterization of schizophrenic patients.

Methods

A total of 24 patients and 19 controls were evaluated. In order to assess mid-level visual perception the Leuven Perceptual Organization Screening Test was used, along with a scale for assessing soft neurological signs and a task for gait and motor imagery. Clinical symptoms were measured with the Positive And Negative Symptoms Scale, using the five-factor model as proposed by Lindenmayer. Data analysis involved comparison of means between patient and control groups as well as a multivariate factor analysis calculating the impact of perceptual and motor functions on clinical symptoms.

Results

Consistent with previous findings, visual and motor functions would differentiate between patient and control groups. In accordance with the study's aim, visual and motor functions had different impact on symptom dimensions.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.