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Neurological Soft Signs in Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

A. Rossi*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinic, University of L'Aquila, Ospedale di S. Maria di Collemaggio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
S. De Cataldo
Affiliation:
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic, University of L'Aquila
V. Di Michele
Affiliation:
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic, University of L'Aquila
V. Manna
Affiliation:
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic, University of L'Aquila
S. Ceccoli
Affiliation:
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic, University of L'Aquila
P. Stratta
Affiliation:
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic, University of L'Aquila
M. Casacchia
Affiliation:
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic, University of L'Aquila
*
Correspondence

Abstract

A standardised clinical examination which focused on neurological soft signs (NSS) was used by a neurologist blind to diagnosis to assess the presence of neurological soft signs. A comparison of NSS score was made among three groups of subjects consisting of 58 DSM–III schizophrenics, 31 of their healthy first-degree relatives and 38 normal controls. The schizophrenic group had significantly higher NSS total scores than normal controls but did not differ significantly from their first-degree relatives' group. The relatives' group showed higher NSS total scores than did normal controls although to a lesser extent than schizophrenics.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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