Abnormal electroretinography in schizophrenic patients with a history of sun gazing.

Electroretinographic (ERG) measurements were performed in 9 schizophrenic patients and in 13 control subjects. The measurements of schizophrenic patients as a group did not differ from those of normals. However, 6 schizophrenic patients who had a past history of sun gazing showed a decrease in retinal responsiveness under conditions of light adaptation. These results suggest that a subgroup of schizophrenic patients, who show deviant light-related behavior, have abnormal ERG. We postulate that an abnormality in retinal dopaminergic neurons, which are known to reduce light responsiveness of horizontal and ganglion cells, is the underlying pathophysiology of this clinical finding.