Goodarzi M A, Khosravani N, Tarikhi A R. A Comparison of Patients with Schizophrenia and Normal Controls on the Contrast Sensitivity Task. Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2011; 13 (3) :75-82
URL:
http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-373-en.html
1- Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
2- M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
3- B.A. in Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract: (2284 Views)
Objective: Patients with schizophrenia have deficit in visual processing. The main purpose of this research was to examine contrast sensitivity in patients with schizophrenia using a perimetry instrument that is commonly used in ophthalmology for diagnosis of visual deficiencies.
Method: The visual pathway of 16 patients with schizophrenia (8 males and 8 females) and 16 normal controls (8 males and 8 females) were examined using the advanced Humphrey automated perimetry equipment. The contrast sensitivity scores of the two groups were compared using student t test analysis for independent groups.
Results: Patients with schizophrenia had lower performance in contrast sensitivity task than normal controls in both eyes.
Conclusion: In general, the results indicate a deficit in contrast sensitivity in patients with schizophrenia. Contrast sensitivity deficit may be due to some abnormalities in visual processing pathways in these patients. Impaired visual processing pathways can explain attention deficits in visual processing of patients with schizophrenia.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Special Received: 2011/05/22 | Accepted: 2011/07/23 | Published: 2011/09/23