Higher Neurological Soft Signs Scores Research Articles

Nonresponding schizophrenia: differentiation by neurological soft signs and neuropsychological tests.

Schizophrenia patients have higher scores on neurological soft-signs (NSS) and show greater deficits on a variety of neuropsychological tests than normal control subjects and mixed groups of psychiatric patients. Among chronic schizophrenia patients it is unclear which of these types of deficits most strongly differentiates patients who remain consistently symptomatic in spite of treatment with several conventional neuroleptics (nonresponders) as compared with relapsing chronic schizophrenia patients who improve substantially with treatment (relative responders). In this study, 25 nonresponders and 20 relative responders to conventional neuroleptics were compared on an NSS battery and a limited number of neuropsychological tests, which evaluated deficits influenced by functioning of frontal and nonfrontal brain areas. NSS scores showed the largest difference between relative responders and nonresponders, and statistical analyses suggested that NSS scores were the strongest differentiator between the two groups of chronic schizophrenia patients. Scores differentiating the two groups involved deficits influenced by both frontal and nonfrontal functioning. A predominance of negative symptoms in the current clinical picture was highly correlated with high NSS scores.

Schizophrenia and neurological soft signs: Gender differences in clinical correlates and antecedent factors

Although it is recognized that patients with schizophrenia demonstrate more neurological soft signs (NSS) than control subjects, the significance and clinical correlates of these signs remain poorly defined. The present study examined 48 patients with DSM-III-R schizophrenia for evidence of NSS. The majority (98%) of patients demonstrated at least one NSS, although the range of scores was wide. There was no relationship between current dosage of neuroleptic medication and NSS score. Among males, there was a significant relationship between NSS and duration of illness. Males whose mothers experienced obstetric complications had higher NSS scores, while females with a family history of schizophrenia exhibited higher scores. These relationships in schizophrenia between NSS and factors of etiological importance such as obstetric complications and family history require further evaluation. The present findings are in accord with a body of evidence which suggests that gender may influence the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the neurology of the disorder.