Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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A Study of Neurological Soft Signs in Patients with Schizophrenia and Their Unaffected Siblings

조현병 환자와 발병하지 않은 형제에게서 연성신경학적 징후 연구

  • Cho, Jang Won (Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Research Institute, College of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Kim, Seok Hyun (Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Research Institute, College of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Lee, Yu Sang (Department of Psychiatry, Yong-In Mental Hospital)
  • 조장원 (한양대학교 의과대학 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 김석현 (한양대학교 의과대학 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 이유상 (용인정신병원 정신건강의학과)
  • Received : 2016.08.31
  • Accepted : 2016.09.28
  • Published : 2016.11.30
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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.

Keywords

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