Visual backward-masking performance in a longitudinal study of early onset schizophrenia.
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of visual backward-masking (VBM) in patients with early onset schizophrenia (EOS, n=28) compared to healthy controls (n=80) at baseline and at one- and two-year follow-ups. Seventeen patients and 40 controls performed a VBM task at all three sessions, which included five different interstimuli intervals (ISI) at 16.5, 33.5, 49.5, 116 and 166ms, and an additional no-masking control task. Patients with EOS revealed no impairment of VBM performance at baseline and at the two follow-ups compared to healthy controls at one- and two-year follow-ups. However, the patients demonstrated a deficit of simple early visual processing. Both groups showed effects of development over a period of 24 months for the shortest ISIs.
Vestre Viken Hospital Trust,1309 Rud, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: rune.thormodsen@psykologi.uio.no.
Rune
R
Thormodsen
Monica
M
Juuhl-Langseth
Aina
A
Holmèn
Bjørn
B
Rishovd Rund
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*