%A Keane,Brian P.
%A Cruz,Lisa N.
%A Paterno,Danielle
%A Silverstein,Steven M.
%D 2018
%J Frontiers in Psychiatry
%C
%F
%G English
%K Basic symptoms,Visual Perception,Premorbid functioning,Hallucinations,Delusions,Schizophrenia,depressive symptoms
%Q
%R 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00069
%W
%L
%M
%P
%7
%8 2018-March-12
%9 Original Research
%+ Dr Brian P. Keane,University Behavioral Health Care, Rutgers University,United States,brian.keane@rutgers.edu
%+ Dr Brian P. Keane,Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University,United States,brian.keane@rutgers.edu
%+ Dr Brian P. Keane,Center for Cognitive Science, Rutgers University,United States,brian.keane@rutgers.edu
%#
%! Bonn Scale Vision
%*
%<
%T Self-Reported Visual Perceptual Abnormalities Are Strongly Associated with Core Clinical Features in Psychotic Disorders
%U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00069
%V 9
%0 JOURNAL ARTICLE
%@ 1664-0640
%X BackgroundPast studies using the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (hereafter, Bonn Scale) have shown that self-reported perceptual/cognitive disturbances reveal which persons have or will soon develop schizophrenia. Here, we focused specifically on the clinical value of self-reported visual perceptual abnormalities (VPAs) since they are underexplored and have been associated with suicidal ideation, negative symptoms, and objective visual dysfunction.MethodUsing the 17 Bonn Scale vision items, we cross-sectionally investigated lifetime occurrence of VPAs in 21 first-episode psychosis and 22 chronic schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (SZ/SA) patients. Relationships were probed between VPAs and illness duration, symptom severity, current functioning, premorbid functioning, diagnosis, and age of onset.ResultsIncreased VPAs were associated with: earlier age of onset; more delusions, hallucinations, bizarre behavior, and depressive symptoms; and worse premorbid social functioning, especially in the childhood and early adolescent phases. SZ/SA participants endorsed more VPAs as compared to those with schizophreniform or psychotic disorder-NOS, especially in the perception of color, bodies, faces, object movement, and double/reversed vision. The range of self-reported VPAs was strikingly similar between first-episode and chronic patients and did not depend on the type or amount of antipsychotic medication. As a comparative benchmark, lifetime occurrence of visual hallucinations did not depend on diagnosis and was linked only to poor premorbid social functioning.ConclusionA brief 17-item interview derived from the Bonn Scale is strongly associated with core clinical features in schizophrenia. VPAs hold promise for clarifying diagnosis, predicting outcome, and guiding neurocognitive investigations.