A longitudinal analysis of eye tracking dysfunction and attention in recent‐onset schizophrenia

The effect of an attentional manipulation on eye tracking dysfunction (ETD) in the early stages of schizophrenia was examined in 34 recent-onset schizophrenic patients and 24 demographically matched normal subjects over a 1-year period. An attentional enhancement manipulation improved eye tracking performance of recent-onset schizophrenic patients more than that of normal subjects. Eye tracking level also was moderately stable for both groups over the course of 1 year. The possible role of attentional allocation in ETD highlights the need for further examination of the interface between attentional and eye tracking measures of vulnerability to schizophrenia.