Event-related potentials and thought disorder in schizophrenia

Schizophr Res. 2000 May 5;42(3):187-91. doi: 10.1016/s0920-9964(99)00132-2.

Abstract

We examined the relationship between event-related potentials and thought disorder in schizophrenia. The subjects were 29 chronic schizophrenic patients. Thought disorder was assessed using the Comprehensive Index of Positive Thought Disorder developed by Harrow and colleagues (Harrow and Quinlan, 1985; Marengo et al., 1986). Auditory event-related potentials were recorded during a standard oddball task. The P300 amplitude correlated negatively with the severity of the thought disorder. The P300 amplitude in the patients with thought disorder was significantly smaller than in the patients without thought disorder. These results suggest that a reduction in P300 amplitude is associated with a fundamental impairment of information processing in schizophrenic patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Event-Related Potentials, P300 / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Schizophrenia / complications*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Thinking / physiology*