A Study of Neurological Soft Signs in Patients with Schizophrenia and Their Unaffected Siblings

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of neurological soft signs as an endophenotype for schizophrenia by examining neurological soft signs in patients, their unaffected siblings and normal comparison subjects. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 32 patients, 25 of their unaffected siblings and 30 normal comparison subjects. Neurological soft signs were evaluated using the Cambridge Neurological Inventory Part 2. soft sign assessment. RESULTS: The patients were significantly more impaired than normal comparison subjects (p = 0.047) on primitive reflex. The patients were significantly more impaired than siblings (p = 0.004) and normal comparison subjects (p = 0.021) on motor coordination. The siblings performed better on sensory integration than the patients (p = 0.020) and normal comparison subjects (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that neurological soft signs might be a potential biomarker for schizophrenia, but might not be an endophenotype for schizophrenia.