Olfactory deficits in schizophrenia.

Olfactory discrimination was measured in patients with schizophrenia who were on neuroleptic medication and was compared with other psychiatric patients receiving neuroleptics and normal controls. The performance of the patients with schizophrenia was significantly lower than the psychiatric and normal controls. The latter two groups performed at equivalent levels. The findings are discussed with respect to olfactory deficits found in patients with cerebral lesions and with abnormalities of specific neurotransmitter systems.