Visual system assessment for predicting a transition to psychosis.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Visual Science

Background:

• Psychiatric prediction of psychotic disorders remains challenging.
• Visual system alterations are increasingly recognized in psychosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utility of visual system assessments in predicting the transition to psychotic disorders.
• To highlight visual markers across multiple levels of analysis.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies on visual perceptual distortions (basic symptoms).
• Analysis of psychophysical, brain-based (MEG, EEG), and retinal (electroretinography) markers.
• Assessment of visual markers in individuals at clinical high risk or early stages of psychosis.

Main Results:

• Visual basic symptoms longitudinally predict schizophrenia onset.
• Psychophysical markers like contrast sensitivity and backward masking show predictive value.
• Brain imaging reveals visual thalamo-cortical hyperconnectivity and altered occipital activity.
• Retinal assessments show diminished cone function and photopic flicker response.

Conclusions:

• Visual system assessments offer a promising, mechanistically informed approach to psychosis prediction.
• Retinal and psychophysical markers are particularly accessible, inexpensive, and well-tolerated.
• Integrating visual assessments could significantly improve early detection and intervention for psychotic disorders.