Sensory dysfunction in adult schizophrenia.

The authors describe the postural abnormalities and sensory-integration deficits of process schizophrenics, or those who have had problems since childhood and who gradually slip into psychosis. A treatment program consisting of a variety of activities designed to correct those deficits was conducted for one year at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center; it was coordinated by the occupational therapy department. At discharge the six participants had improved, and their gains were maintained at one-year follow-up. The authors believe similar programs would be useful in board-and-care homes and long-term-care facilities.