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.
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 schizophrenicpatients. 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.
Authors: Allyssa J Allen; Mélina E Griss; Bradley S Folley; Keith A Hawkins; Godfrey D Pearlson Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2009-02-15 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Larry J Seidman; Anthony J Giuliano; Christopher W Smith; William S Stone; Stephen J Glatt; Eric Meyer; Stephen V Faraone; Ming T Tsuang; Barbara Cornblatt Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2006-05-17 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Zainab Delawalla; Deanna M Barch; Jennifer L Fisher Eastep; Emily S Thomason; Melissa J Hanewinkel; Paul A Thompson; John G Csernansky Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2006-05-19 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Larry J Seidman; Eric C Meyer; Anthony J Giuliano; Hans C Breiter; Jill M Goldstein; William S Kremen; Heidi W Thermenos; Rosemary Toomey; William S Stone; Ming T Tsuang; Stephen V Faraone Journal: Neuropsychology Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Sari Mukkala; Tuula Ilonen; Tanja Nordström; Jouko Miettunen; Jukka Loukkola; Jennifer H Barnett; Graham K Murray; Erika Jääskeläinen; Pirjo Mäki; Anja Taanila; Irma Moilanen; Peter B Jones; Markus Heinimaa; Juha Veijola Journal: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 2.475