title: Neurological soft signs (NSS) in 200 treatment-naïve cases with schizophrenia: a community-based study in a rural setting.
abstract: Several studies have reported neurological soft signs (NSS) to be common in individuals with schizophrenia. The majority of these studies are based on clinical samples exposed to neuroleptic treatment. The present study reports on 200 treatment-naïve and community-identified cases of schizophrenia and 78 healthy individuals from the same area, evaluated using the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). The median NES score was 5.0 for cases of schizophrenia and 1.5 for healthy subjects. The impairment rate of NSS in cases with schizophrenia was 65.0% against 50.0% in healthy subjects, and the difference was statistically significant (chi2 = 5.30; df = 1; P < 0.021). NSS abnormality is as common in treatment-naïve cases as reported in many studies in those on neuroleptic medication. There was no significant relation between the NSS impairment and duration of illness, remission status, positive symptoms, negative symptoms and disorganized symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibre
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kebede
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alem
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kebreab
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Melaku
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Deyassa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negash
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fekadu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fekadu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medhin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Negeri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kullgren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors