Correlation of severity of psychiatric patients' delusions with right hemispatial inattention (left-turning behavior)

Am J Psychiatry. 1993 Feb;150(2):330-2. doi: 10.1176/ajp.150.2.330.

Abstract

Studies associate psychotic disorders with various forms of subtle inattention to the right hemispace (left-turning behavior). The authors examined the correlation between this dopamine-related sign and severity of delusions (presumably dopaminergic symptoms) in 20 psychotic patients. Delusions were significantly correlated with severity of left-turning bias, and this neurological sign accounted for 33% of the variance in severity of delusions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attention* / physiology
  • Delusions / diagnosis*
  • Delusions / physiopathology
  • Dopamine / physiology
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Spatial Behavior*

Substances

  • Dopamine