2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
The research about designing a device for objective evaluations to traditional symptoms of psychosis -from intuitive diagnosis to metrical diagnosis-
| Project/Area Number |
17591230
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Psychiatric science
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| Research Institution | Wakayama medical university |
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Principal Investigator |
KAKU Tetsuji Wakayama medical university, medical department, associate professor, 医学部, 助教授 (70185718)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
SHINOSAKI Kazuhiro Wakayama medical university, medical department, professor, 医学部, 教授 (40215984)
MATSUMOTO Naoki Wakayama medical university, medical department, assistant, 医学部, 助手 (60326361)
KOSE Asami Wakayama medical university, medical department, assistant, 医学部, 助手 (10405425)
SHOUYAMA Masaru Wakayama medical university, medical department, assistant, 医学部, 助手 (70364081)
TUJI Tomikimi Wakayama medical university, medical department, assistant, 医学部, 助手 (10347586)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2005 – 2006
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| Keywords | facial expression / blink rate / psychiatric symptom / schizophrenia |
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| Research Abstract |
In traditional psychiatric symptomatology, an abnormality of facial expression like rigidity ('Steif') were a sign of schizophrenia. Characteristics of blinking were one of the diagnostic signs. Though schizophrenic patients blink rates are lower than normal during usual consultation, to investigate blinking characteristics in schizophrenics, we evaluate blink rates per minute. We recorded vertical eye movements accompanied with blinking using an EEG polygraph, in schizophrenic patients (with hallucinations, without hallucinations) and in neurotic patients as controls, in a relaxed condition. The blink rates were lower in schizophrenics with hallucination than in neurotic patients or in schizophrenics without hallucination. The blink rates in all schizophrenics correlated significantly with total BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) scores, and with hallucination scores. These findings were different from previous studies, but consistent with our empirical inspection about blink rates of schizophrenics. Our results indicate that blink rates of schizophrenics with hallucination are very low compared with others and the blink rates of schizophrenics in general correlate with the severity of psychotic symptoms, especially in a relaxed condition with no attentive task. Blink rates are an objective measurement and this may contribute to an objective diagnosis for any type of psychosis. Moreover, we investigate the blink rates in long hospitalized schizophrenic patients who plan to admit rehabilitation home. Especially with attentive tasks, after admission, brink rates significantly decreased and Memfis score (evaluating mental function) improved and actually social skill improved in inspection, though BPRS score and in Zung's anxiety score increased. Brink rates may reflect improvement of performance. We might use blink rates as a tool for diagnosis of psychosis and the state of severity.
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