Oculomotor signs in a psychiatric population: a preliminary report

Oculomotor signs were evaluated in 172 psychiatric patients. Schizophrenic patients demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of staring, pursuit breaks, and lateral glances than did controls or other psychiatric patients. Oculomotor signs may help to differentiate schizophrenia from affective and nonpsychotic disorders. Patients with tardive dyskinesia and patients treated with tricyclic antidepressants demonstrated a significant elevation in mean blink rate. Elevated blink rates may be on early indicator of tardive dyskinesia.