ABSTRACT
Neurological soft signs (NSS) were studied in some axis-I disorders like schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, alcohol and substance abuse disorder. Aim of this study is detection of neurological soft signs in antisocial personality disorder and relation of these signs with psychopathy. The study was included 41 antisocial men and 41 healthy control subjects. Sociodemographic form, neurological evaluation scale and Hare psychopathy checklist was applied to the antisocial subjects, whereas sociodemographic form and neurological evaluation scale were applied to the controls. Antisocial men exhibited significiantly more NSS in total score and subgroups scales (p<0.05). It was shown that there was a significant association with psychopathy scores and NSS sequencing complex motor tasks (r=0.309; p=0.049) and NSS other tests subgroup scores (r=0.328; p=0.037). Similar relation was also observed in comparison between psychopathy subgroups. NSS accepted as being endophenotypes in schizophrenia, were also detected in antisocial group significantly more than controls in our study. Significant relationship between psychopathy and NSS may also hint the role of genetic mechanisms in personality development, though new extended studies with larger sample size are needed for clarification of this relationship.
Subject(s)
Antisocial Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Symptom Assessment , Adolescent , Adult , Antisocial Personality Disorder/psychology , Case-Control Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neurologic Examination , Neuropsychological Tests , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have revealed distinct features of autism, with higher harm avoidance and lower reward dependence and novelty seeking. It is assumed that high harm avoidance, and low novelty seeking, reward dependence, cooperativeness, and self-directedness are related with the broad autism phenotype, as seen in autistic individuals. METHOD: This study examined the association between the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), in parents of children with ASD. RESULT: There was significant correlation between total AQ and total harm avoidance, cooperativeness, and self-directedness (p < 0.05). In the stepwise analysis, self-directedness and education emerged significantly (F(2,67) = 19.71, p < .005). This model modestly explained 35% of variance (Adjusted R(2) = .350). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that self-directedness may be an autistic trait.
Subject(s)
Asperger Syndrome/psychology , Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology , Autistic Disorder/psychology , Parents/psychology , Temperament , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Personality Assessment , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The use of atypical antipsychotic drugs in patients with psychiatric illness may result in dyslipidemia, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and abdominal obesity, which are together referred to as metabolic syndrome (MS). To investigate any correlations among insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), schizophrenia, and MS, we examined the metabolic profiles of patients with schizophrenia taking atypical antipsychotics. DESIGN: Patients with schizophrenia, their siblings, and controls participated in this study (N=50 in each group). The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis 1 Disorders (SCID I) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were administered to patients, and SCID I was administered to patients' siblings. We drew blood to measure IGF-1 levels and to determine the metabolic profiles of all participants; we also conducted anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in IGF-1 levels between groups. By comparing IGF-1 levels with MS-related parameters, we found that IGF-1 levels were negatively correlated with triglyceride levels in the control group, and positively correlated with HDL levels in the patient group (Pearson's correlation: r=-0.291, P=0.04, and r=0.328, P=0.02, respectively). Compared to their siblings, patients with schizophrenia had a significantly different body mass index, waist circumference, and insulin resistance, and showed a trend toward a difference in glucose levels (ANOVA: P=0.004, P<0.0001, P=0.004, P=0.072, respectively). CONCLUSION: A correlation between IGF-1 and MS may significantly influence future therapeutic strategies for MS. In order to determine the role of IGF-1 in schizophrenia, comprehensive longitudinal studies with first-episode drug-naive patients are needed.
