In this study, descriptive phenomenological analysis was performed on visual perception metamorphosis of 24 people with schizophrenia not taking antipsychotics. There have been various statements from patients on this matter, and we categorized them into 9 groups and examined them. The results suggest that these phenomena could be understood as dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, a decrease of loss of eye movement, and dysfunction of convergence, such as:1)wearing thick‒lensed glasses, 2)a stabilized retinal image, and 3)a stereogram. These phenomena also occur in healthy individuals under certain conditions;therefore, the results revealed commonalities between healthy individuals and schizophrenic patients. Moreover, the accessory oculomotor nucleus(Edinger‒Westphal), superior colliculus, and midbrain are individually considered to cause these phenomena as part of the central nervous system. Although the aim of this study is not to discuss the localization of these phenomena, the area from the midbrain to basal ganglion is a lower system than the cerebrum, which is inconsistent with recent studies on the psychopathology of schizophrenia viewing it as a defect of the cerebrum.
Descriptive Phenomenological Study:Visual Perception Metamorphosis Precedes Schizophrenic Onset
Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica
115: 813-830, 2013
Accepted in revised form: 2 February 2013.
Accepted in revised form: 2 February 2013.
<Keywords:visual perception metamorphosis, midbrain, schizophrenia>