Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

This study was performed to examine the role of neuroleptics may play in the development of neurologic soft signs in patients with schizophrenia. Neurologic soft signs were evaluated in 28 neuroleptic naive patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder and 31 neuroleptic non-naive patients with schizophrenia using a structured tool for measuring neurologic abnormalities, Neurological Evaluation Scale-Korean version(NES-K). Relationship to dose, duration and neurological side effects of neuroleptic treatment were also evaluated. Total scores of NES-K in neuroleptic naive group were significantly higher than those of non-naive group. Scores of motor coordination, sequencing of complex motor acts and others items in functional subcategories were also significantly higher in drug-naive patients. The sensory integration item was not different between two groups. After controlling covariates such as dose of neuroleptics, age and sex, total scores, motor coordination and others items of NES-K were significantly higher in neuroleptic naive group. However there was no difference between drug naive and non-naive group in the sequencing of complex motor acts item due to effects of these covariates. In neuroleptic non-naive group the dosage of neuroleptics correlated with the motor coordination item, nor were there relationships between duration and side effects of neuroleptic treatment and neurologic soft signs. These findings suggest that neuroleptic treatment may play a only relative role in the development of neurologic soft signs in patients with schizophrenia and these abnormalities may be one of possible trait markers of schizophrenia. To elucidate this opinion, well-controlled, prospective study in same subjects will be helpful.

Keywords Neurologic soft signs;Schizophrenia;Neuroleptics.