Assessment of saccadic eye movements as an instrument of differential diagnostic screening.

Fast conjugate (saccadic) eye movements tested for stimuli between 5 and 30 degrees to the left or the right are characterized by three parameters: latency, maximum velocity, and accuracy. The recordings of 152 patients, diagnosed by the psychiatrist for depressive and/or organic symptoms, demonstrate different sensitivity of saccadic parameters to instruction, medication, and psychopathology. The parameter maximal velocity appears to be a parameter of psychopathology, but above all also of medication, while the parameter latency appears to be primarily a parameter of psychopathology. Accuracy is the more 'psychological' or 'volitional' parameter.