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Abstract

Background and Hypothesis:
Visual impairments have been proposed as risk factors for psychotic symptoms and illnesses. Visual impairments can considerably impact peoples’ daily lives, but little is known about the impact and diagnostic sensitivity of such abnormalities for schizotypal personality traits. This study aims to explore possible relationships between schizotypy and visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and parameters that describe eye movements and visual processing times.

Study Design:
Schizotypy was assessed in thirty-seven participants with the Multidimensional Schizotypy ScaleBrief (MSS-B). For the visual function measures we used the Acuity-Plus test and the new Eye Movement and Integrated Saccade Latency (EMAIL) test. The latter measures oculomotor performance during an eye movement task, including the visual processing time at the end of each saccade.

Study Results:
The disorganised dimension of the schizotypy scores predicted visual acuity when measured with black optotypes. Additionally, we found that participants who had higher disorganised scores showed an increased response variability, as assessed through the goodness of fit measure from the EMAIL test.

Conclusions:
These results from this exploratory study extend upon earlier findings from both general and patient samples, highlighting the clinical and subclinical importance of understanding how spatial vision can be affected in people with schizotypal disorganised behaviour.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Schizophrenia Bulletin following peer review. The version of record Llapashtica, E., Barbur, J. & Haenschel, C. (2024). Reduced Visual Function in Schizotypal Traits: an exploratory study. Schizophrenia Bulletin, doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbae049 will be available online at: http://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbae049
Publisher Keywords:	Schizotypy, visual acuity, anomalous perceptions, eye movement responses
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Optometry & Visual Sciences School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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