[Search for neurophysiological markers of schizophrenia spectrum disorders: ocular microtremor and contrast sensitivity].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate ocular microtremor (OMT) and contrast sensitivity (CS) as potential neurophysiological markers of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study included 85 patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia (F20.0), schizotypal (F21), and schizoaffective disorder (F25.X), as well as 29 healthy volunteers. The CS assessment was performed using an adaptive staircase procedure, and the OMT recording was conducted via video recording. Psychometric methods included the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and the Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS) for extrapyramidal symptoms.

RESULTS

Patients with SSD showed a decrease in CS at spatial frequencies of 1.0 and 10 cycles/deg, as well as a decrease in OMT frequency and an increase in OMT amplitude, compared with healthy subjects (p<0.05). These differences persisted even in patients without receiving long-term antipsychotics compared with healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

Considering the data obtained, the parameters of OMT and CS seem to be promising in the context of the search for neurophysiological markers of schizophrenia.