No abstract

Schizophrenic and control participants received 2 blocks of trials in each experiment. In 1 block they were exposed to regular priming trials (doctor-nurse), and in another block a nonlexical probe was presented at prime onset for 40 ms. Regardless of stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA), the schizophrenic patients showed hyperpriming when no distrator was present. Paying attention to the distracting stimulus reduced priming in the patient group irrespective of SOA. Under certain situations, the reduction in priming appeared even when participants were asked to ignore the distracting stimulus. Thus, even a nonsemantic distractor may be detrimental to schizophrenic patients' language processing. That SOA did not modulate the reduction in priming effect is consistent with the suggestion that attentional resources are required even with short prime-target intervals.

No abstract

A.L., a 42-yr-old man has been in treatment at our out- patient clinic since 1992 suffering from psychotic manifestations following a second severe closed-head injury. The patient had his first contact with a psychiatrist 3 yr after his first severe head injury in 1962 (when 10 yr old). During his first hospitalization (in 1994) he presented with signs of affective flattening and behavioural problems and indications of borderline intellectual functioning or mild mental retardation. The patient underwent several surgical interventions. The early inter-operative period was complicated by behavioural problems and a lack of motivation. At that time his intellectual tests (WAIS) showed a decline of results to a level of 60-80 in verbal tests, with a significant decrease in performance results. However, after further surgery, his intellectual condition improved enabling him to complete a secondary-school education, get married and start work as an industrial worker. From that time onwards he had no contact with psychiatrists, nor did he receive any medication treatment.