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Introduction:

‘Neurological soft signs (NSS)’ and ‘Minor physical anomalies (MPA)’ represent two quitedistinct markers of risk for schizophrenia that stem from genetic factors and have been studied over thepast 3 decades. The aim of the current study was to assess Neurological soft signs (NSS) and Minorphysical anomalies (MPA) in children of patients suffering from schizophrenia and compare the same tochildren having parents without any psychiatric disorders.

Methodology:

The study was a cross sectional study at a Private tertiary care psychiatric hospital in urbanset up. The data was collected over a period of 1 year during June 2016- June 2017. The subjects of thisstudy were children of parents suffering from schizophrenia and children of parents without anypsychiatric disorder. The control group was made up of 40 children of the same age group with parentshaving no psychiatric disorders. Following the collection of sociodemographic details using a semistructured proforma, children in both groups were assessed using the Physical and Neurological Soft signScale (PANESS) while MPAs were assessed using the Waldrop scale. The data collected was statisticallyanalyzed.

Results:

There was no statistically significant correlation between demographic factors like gender, age,birth order, educational status or type of delivery with neurological soft signs and minor physicalanomalies. It was found that the study group had higher score for incoordination of gait and balance;higher score for slowness in performing patterned speed of movements which included toe heel alteration,hand supination and pronation, finger succession as compared to control group along with higher scoresfor involuntary movements, excess dysrhythmia score and overflow score including mirror movements inindex group than controls. There was no statistically significant difference in lateral preference patterns ormix handedness of cases and controls. Among Minor physical anomalies, the study group also had moreanomalies in mouth like high-steeped palate and tongue anomaly, curved 5th finger of hands and big gapbetween first and second toe (sandal gap).

Conclusion:

NSS and MPA are important variables and biomarkers that may be assessed in patients withschizophrenia and their offspirngs.