Gesture performance in first- and multiple-episode patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

BACKGROUND/AIM Gesturing plays an important role in social behavior and social learning. Deficits are frequent in schizophrenia and may contribute to impaired social functioning. Information about deficits during the course of the disease and presence of severity and patterns of impairment in first-episode patients is missing. Hence, we aimed to investigate gesturing in first- compared to multiple-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. METHODS In 14 first-episode patients, 14 multiple-episode patients and 16 healthy controls matched for age, gender and education, gesturing was assessed by the comprehensive Test of Upper Limb Apraxia. Performance in two domains of gesturing - imitation and pantomime - was recorded on video. Raters of gesture performance were blinded. RESULTS Patients with multiple episodes had severe gestural deficits. For almost all gesture categories, performance was worse in multiple- than in first-episode patients. First-episode patients demonstrated subtle deficits with a comparable pattern. CONCLUSIONS Subjects with multiple psychotic episodes have severe deficits in gesturing, while only mild impairments were found in first-episode patients independent of age, gender, education and negative symptoms. The results indicate that gesturing is impaired at the onset of disease and likely to further deteriorate during its course.

Accommodating the spectrum of individual abilities.

Item 288-A-5

Effects of age and low doses of alcohol on compensatory tracking during angular acceleration.

Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Aviation Medicine, Washington, D.C.

Neutron cross sections: angular distributions

"Expansion of the limited amount of angular

Federal government use and management of spectrum : hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session, June 25, 1996.

Shipping list no.: 97-0097-P.

Evaluation of a prototype magnetohydrodynamic angular acceleration transducer. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Analysis of angular misalignment errors in mounting linear acclerometers to anatomical subjects. Technical report.

Mode of access: Internet.

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The spectrum of omicron ceti.

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Radiation measurements and the spectrum /

"From the Medical Division, Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under contract with the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and from the Medical School, Shinshu University, Matsumotoshi, Japan."--Page 1.

Preparation and beta-spectrum of carrier-free Ni⁶³ and very low energy beta backscattering : (thesis) /

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"RADC contract no. AF 30(602)-2077."