A comparative study on neurological soft signs in patients suffering from schizophrenia, their first-degree relatives and healthy control

Abstract

Introduction: Neurological soft signs (NSS) can be defined as a group of minor nonlocalizable neurological abnormalities, including simple motor coordination, complex motor sequencing, and sensory integration dysfunctions. Research has postulated complex etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia which is amalgamation of various genetic, biological, and psychosocial factors. This study provides us opportunity to endorse the neurodevelopmental hypothesis in schizophrenia.Aim: The aim of this study is to study and compare NSS in patients suffering from schizophrenia, first-degree relatives and healthy controls.Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, noninterventional, single time assessment, and hospital-based study was carried out on 60 patients, 60 first-degree relatives, and 60 healthy controls. Evaluation was done using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Cambridge Neurological Inventory (Part 2). Results were obtained, tabulated, and analyzed.Results: We observed that patients with schizophrenia had more NSS than healthy control as well as their first-degree relatives. Similarly, first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia had more NSS than healthy control. The most common soft sign in patients as well as relatives was Oseretsky test. Most of the patients performed poorly on tests for motor coordination and sensory integration so did their first-degree relatives.Conclusion: NSS can be potential endophenotype for patients suffering from schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia had more NSS than healthy control as well as their first-degree relatives. Similarly, first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia had more NSS than healthy control. This suggests a role of common genetic and/or environmental factors in the pathogenesis of these abnormalities in the two groups. This is in with support neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia.