Vestibular Dysfunction and Psychopathology

Abstract

A review of the empirical findings linking vestibular response abnormalities to psychopathology, and particularly to schizophrenia, indicates that these data do not unequivocally document the presence of peripheral or central disease of the vestibular system in any patient group. The reasons for this ambiguity include: use of imprecise stimulation techniques, inaccurate measures of responsiveness, unreliable measures of quantification, and the absence of experimental control over extravestibular variables. Future directions for research in this area are discussed, including the localizing information derived from properly conducted tests of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in studies of oculomotor function.

Eye Tracking Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: Characterization and Pathophysiology

“… 2 A discussion of possible reasons for the difference between these results and those of earlier investigators as well as a critical review of the literature on vestibular function in psychopatho-logical conditions can be found elsewhere (Levy et al 1983). The status of visual–vestibular interaction remains unclear, with some data supporting normal responses in schizophrenic patients (Levy et al 1978) and other data supporting abnormal responses (Jones and Pivik 1983; Yee et al 1987; Warren and Ross 1998).…”

“…In addition, several different voluntary saccade paradigms have been used, including saccades to predictable targets (Levin et al 1982; Abel et al 1992; Clementz et al 1994; Crawford et al 1995a, b; Karoumi et al 1998; Hutton et al 2001; Krebs et al 2001; O’Driscoll et al 2005; Spengler et al 2006; Sailer et al 2007) [see also review by (Gooding and Basso 2008); saccades away from targets (antisaccades) (Thaker et al 1989; Fukushima et al 1990; Clementz et al 1994; Sereno and Holzman 1995; Katsanis et al 1997; McDowell and Clementz 1997; Rosenberg et al 1997; Hutton et al 1998; Maruff et al 1998; O’Driscoll et al 1998; Gooding 1999; Castellanos et al 2000; Curtis et al 2001; Gooding and Tallent 2001; Mostofsky et al 2001; Barton et al 2002; Sweeney et al 2002; Brownstein et al 2003; Calkins et al 2003; Munoz et al 2003; Ettinger et al 2004; Levy et al 2004; Radant et al 2007; Barton et al 2008); saccades to remembered or attended targets (Park and Holzman 1992; Ross et al 1994; Park et al 1995; Everling et al 1996; McDowell and Clementz 1996; Sweeney et al 1998a; Muller et al 1999; Larrison-Faucher et al 2002; Winograd-Gurvich et al 2006)]; and saccades to target sequences (Biscaldi et al 1998; LeVasseur et al 2001; Ram-Tsur et al 2006). Fixation (Amador et al 1991; Gooding et al 2000; Munoz et al 2003; Smyrnis et al 2004; Barton et al 2008), the oculocephalic reflex (Lipton et al 1980), and optokinetic and vestibular responses (Levy et al 1978, 1983; Latham et al 1981; Jones and Pivik 1983; Yee et al 1987; Cooper and Pivik 1991; Warren and Ross 1998) have been studied as well.…”

The demystification of autoscopic phenomena: Experimental propositions

“…Early reports described a reduced reactivity of the vestibular system in (mainly catatonic) patients with chronic schizophrenia [44]. However, a subsequent review disqualified vestibular dysfunctions of peripheral or central origins in schizophrenia [45]. However, as argued for a relationship between psychosis and AP, vestibular dysfunctions may only be relevant when patients show acute symptoms [46].…”

Vestibular stimulation improves insight into illness in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

“…A number of studies have used CVS to investigate the relationship between vestibular pathology and schizophrenia (Fish and Dixon, 1978; Levy et al, 1978, 1983). Another study explored the effects of CVS on language in schizophrenia (Bailey, 1978).…”