Minor Physical Anomalies, Neurological Soft Signs, and Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Their Respective Normal Siblings– a Cross-Sectional Case Control Study

Abstract

Aim : To assess the presence of Minor physical anomalies, Neurological soft signs, and neurocognitive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and their respective siblings and to assess the difference if any and their clinical relevance. Study Design: cross-sectional case control study. Materials And Methods: Socio demographic details as per Performa collected from cases and controls. Complete physical examination including detailed Neurological evaluation done. Afterwards MPA scale, NES scale and neuropsychological tests were applied to both patients and their healthy siblings separately. Likewise 30 subjects were tested in 4 each groups. Statistical Design: Measures of central tendency and dispersion, tests of significance. Results: The presence of MPA in schizophrenia patients (63.3%) compared to bipolar illness (50%) was not significantly higher. There is significantly higher presence of NSS between schizophrenia, bipolar patients and their siblings. On Neuroconitive dysfunction, there is a significantly higher prevalence of visual memory impairment, executive dysfunction among schizophrenia patients, bipolar patients compared to their siblings. Verbal memory was impaired in significantly higher proportion in schizophrenia patients compared to other groups. Conclusion : NSS, MPAs and neurocognitive dysfunction, may help for understanding etiopathogenesis, symptom dimension and treatment response of both illness. This will help in identifying high risk individuals and possible intervention may be imitated early to prevent the occurrence of illness.