Parkinsonism in neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies in schizophrenia have identified abnormalities involving the basal ganglia, but the contribution of neuroleptics to the motor system abnormalities in schizophrenia is usually a confounding factor. This study addressed the issue of whether parkinsonism, a reflection of dopaminergic hypofunction, occurs in schizophrenia per se.


METHODS
Clinical ratings and quantitative instrumental measures of parkinsonian rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia were obtained in 24 neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients and 24 age- and gender-matched comparison subjects.


RESULTS
According to the clinical ratings, 21% of the schizophrenic patients had rigidity and 12% had bradykinesia, in contrast to none of the normal comparison subjects. With the use of instrumental measures, rigidity and tremor were observed in 29% and 37%, respectively, of the schizophrenic patients, compared to 4% and none in the normal comparison group. The schizophrenic patients also exhibited greater right-side than left-side parkinsonism.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that extrapyramidal motor signs may be part of schizophrenia proper and that some patients with schizophrenia have left striatal hypodopaminergia unrelated to neuroleptic treatment.
Caligiuri
M P
MP
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
Lohr
J B
JB
Jeste
D V
DV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D004298:Dopamine