Smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) dysfunction is a putative genetic
marker for schizophrenia, but it has also been described in major
depression. The authors longitudinally evaluated effects of clinical state
on SPEM quality in patients with depression. Prior to ECT, SPEM abnormality
characterized 42% of 24 severely depressed patients, 60% of 30
schizophrenia patients, and 5% of 20 control subjects. SPEM was
significantly correlated to Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores (r
= 0.49, P = 0.02) in the depressed patients. Although SPEM was transiently
disrupted by an acute ECT treatment, it improved during the treatment
course. This improvement of SPEM quality with clinical recovery suggests
that SPEM abnormality may be a state marker in severe major depression, in
contrast to its invariable trait nature in schizophrenia.
Abstract Teaser