Visual inattention in schizophrenia.

目的：本研究旨在探討精神分裂症的視覺注意力缺失特徵，尤其是性別與操作手的關係，並分析影響其注意力功能的因素。方法：七十三位精神分裂症個案與七十一位正常人，分別使用左、右手執行森肯柏格線段中分測驗（Schenkenberg’s line bisection test)，並接受手測化量表、及精神症狀等評量。結果：精神分裂症與對照組在執行線段中分測驗時，傾向於偏移至執行手之側，且精神分裂症組呈現左傾的偏誤，二組受試以左手受測時偏移量較顯著。正常男性使用右手受測時呈現較明顯的右偏。精神分裂症則無性別差異。男性精神分裂症息者以左手從事線段中分時，較之男性正常人呈現較明顯的左傾。結論：結果顯示精神分裂症息者呈現處理右側知覺動作反應的困難，此發現呼應該症與左側腦功能缺失有關之說，尤以男性為甚。 Objective: The laterality hypothesis of schizophrenia has been proposed that implicates the predominant role of left- hemispheric dysfunction in the onset of the disorder. The line bisection test is good and simple to explore this issue . Previous research has demonstrated that visual attention deficits in schizophrenic patients may exist, however inconclusive, particularly in nondominant hand and with gender differences. This study investigated this possible lateral imbalance in schizophrenia by means of the line bisection test in both handedness. Method: Performance by the schizophrenic group using either hand for the task was compared to that of a healthy control group. Sex differences were explored for both groups. Results: The results showed significant hand effects in both groups (the schizophrenic group: Z -5.53, p < .001; the control group: Z=-5.55, p < . 001). The schizophrenic group showed a tendency to err toward the left as compared to the controls, supporting the left- hemispheric dysfunction hypothesis. This leftward bias in schizophrenia was more pronounced in the male subgroup. Male schizophrenics showed a more pronounced leftward bias than the male controls (U=467, p < .03). Conclusion: This finding supported the lateral imbalance hypothesis of schizophrenia and the mediating role of gender in visual attention deficits in schizophrenia. Recommendations were made for the incorporation of laterality assessment and neurocognitive rehabilitation into the intervention for patients with schizophrenia in order to address their lateralized deficits in attention.