Abstract
To provide evidence for fall prevention in schizophrenia patients, we evaluated the
characteristics of their postural sway by using a stabilograph and studied the factors
explaining these characteristics. We measured the postural sway of 40 schizophrenia patients
from the in- and out-patient departments of a psychiatric hospital. The average total trajectory
length from the center of gravity when the patient’s eyes were open unchanged as compared
to healthy controls. However, when their eyes were closed, it was 13 cm shorter than that of
them（ p＜0.01）. The average location of the center of gravity in patient’s shifted backward
by an average of 3.0 cm when the patient’s eyes were opened and closed as compared to
them（ p＜0.01）. Multiple linear regression analysis with variables such as age, sex, outpatient
status, disease duration, amount of anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety drugs, and levels of
drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms revealed that disease duration was significantly
associated with a longer trajectory from the center of gravity. The center of gravity likely
shifted backward with higher doses of anti-psychotics; however, these observations were
noted only when the patient’s eyes were closed.
