Information processing dysfunction in paranoid schizophrenia: a two-factor deficit.

The authors investigated information processing in schizophrenia by studying 30 paranoid schizophrenic patients and 30 depressed inpatients. The basic methodology relied on tachistoscopic presentation of stimuli. First, the critical stimulus duration needed for identification of a target stimulus was determined. Second, when the target stimulus was followed by a masking stimulus, a measure of speed of information processing was obtained. The schizophrenic patients were imparied on input factors and speed of processing. The authors think it is unlikely that the results were due to medication effect or to gross psychopathology. Their discussion centers on how this two-factor deficit in information processing may result in cognitive disruption and how this study relates to other investigations.