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Sustained attention in young people at high risk for schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2017

R. COSWAY ,
M. BYRNE ,
R. CLAFFERTY ,
A. HODGES ,
E. GRANT ,
J. MORRIS ,
S. S. ABUKMEIL ,
S. M. LAWRIE ,
P. MILLER  and
D. G. C. OWENS
...Show all authors
R. COSWAY
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
M. BYRNE
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
R. CLAFFERTY
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
A. HODGES
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
E. GRANT
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
J. MORRIS
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
S. S. ABUKMEIL
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
S. M. LAWRIE
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
P. MILLER
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
D. G. C. OWENS
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
E. C. JOHNSTONE
Affiliation:
From the University Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh
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Abstract

Background. Sustained attention has been found to be impaired in individuals suffering from schizophrenia and their close relatives. This has led to the hypothesis that impaired sustained attention is an indicator of vulnerability to schizophrenia.

Methods. The Edinburgh High Risk Study used the Continuous Performance Test-Identical Pairs version (CPT-IP) to assess sustained attention in 127 high risk participants, 30 controls and 15 first-episode schizophrenic patients. A second assessment was completed by 59 high risk and 18 control participants 18 months to 2 years after the first.

Results. No differences in attentional capacity were found between the high risk and control groups and there was no association between genetic liability to schizophrenia and poor performance on the CPT-IP. Additionally, no association between occurrence of psychotic symptoms in the high risk group and impaired attentional capacity was found.

Conclusions. The results suggest that deficits in sustained attention are not indicative of a genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia, and are not associated with the occurrence of psychotic symptoms.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , February 2002 , pp. 277 - 286
Copyright
2002 Cambridge University Press

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