Among many biological hypothesis regarding the emergence of schizophrenia, the theory of hypofrontalism has been received broad support in recent days.
Our study intends to find hypofrontalism in schizophrenics which is not found in normal controls by way of the Neuropsychological test.
Seventeen patients with chronic schizophrenia over three years and eighteen normal controls were tested.
The test consists of category test(CAT) which is the main subtest of the Halsteed Reitan battery. Continuous performance test(CPT). And Strop test(ST). All of these are known as the tests by which we can look into the function of frontal lobe.
In case of the CAT. The patients group showed a remarkably high Number of error(P=0.00). and in case of CPT. Patients showed obviously inferior capability to the normal controls in responding to correct answers(P=0.001).
In all subtest of ST, patients group showed an eminently enormous number of error (STI: P=0.003, ST2: P=0.001, ST3: P=0.007) and longer response time(ST1: P=0.027, STS=0.003, ST3: P=0.02)
The results of our study suggests that there is hypofrontalism in schizophrenics. Consequently it is expected that this kind of tests may be utilized for preventive early diagnosis, treatment and foreknowing prognosis in schizophrenics.
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