SMOOTH PURSUIT EYE-MOVEMENT DYSFUNCTION AS A BIOLOGICAL MARKER FOR PREDICTION OF DISEASE COURSES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

We investigated the relationship between a smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) dysfunction and long-term disease courses of schizophrenia. Many schizophrenic patients without the SPEM dysfunction tended to show an acute onset of illness, undulating courses and relatively good outcomes. On the other hand, patients with cogwheel-like SPEM dysfunction tended to show a chronic onset, simple courses, relatively severe outcomes and negative symptoms.