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Tobacco Use Decreases Visual Sensitivity in Schizophrenia
Thiago M P Fernandes1,2, Michael J Oliveira de Andrade1,2, Jessica B Santana1,2
1Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Brazil.
Frontiers in Psychology
|March 22, 2018
Summary
Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) who use tobacco chronically exhibit reduced visual sensitivity. This finding suggests tobacco use impacts visual processing in SCZ and warrants further investigation for diagnostic and public health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Visual Science
Background:
- Smoking is more prevalent in schizophrenia (SCZ) patients.
- Chronic tobacco use may self-medicate antipsychotic side effects.
- Visual sensitivity changes in SCZ smokers have diagnostic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate chronic tobacco use effects on visual sensitivity in SCZ patients.
- Explore psychophysical and electrophysiological research avenues.
- Inform clinical practices and public health policies.
Main Methods:
- Compared visual sensitivity in SCZ tobacco users, SCZ non-users, and smoker controls (SC).
- Recruited 40 SC, 20 SCZ tobacco users, and 20 SCZ non-users.
- Utilized psychophysical assessments of chromatic and achromatic stimuli.
Main Results:
- SCZ tobacco users showed significantly lower visual sensitivity.
- This reduction was observed for both chromatic and achromatic stimuli (p < 0.001).
- Visual sensitivity was impaired in SCZ smokers compared to SCZ non-users and SC groups.
Conclusions:
- Chronic tobacco use in SCZ patients impairs visual sensitivity.
- Highlights the need to assess addictive behaviors in SCZ.
- Findings may guide public policies to improve SCZ patient quality of life.
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