Abnormal neurological signs at the onset of psychosis.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this investigation was to determine whether abnormal neurological signs (ANS) are present at the onset of psychosis, prior to the initiation of antipsychotic treatment, and to examine the effect of 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment on these signs.


METHODS
We examined 29 first-episode schizophrenic patients admitted at an Army Medical Center within 10 days of psychosis onset, using the Neurological Evaluation Scale and the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and compared them to controls.


RESULTS
All of the subjects had neurological signs indicating problems in sensory integration, motor coordination, and sequencing of complex motor acts. No psychotic subject had fewer than two abnormal neurological signs. When compared to age and sex matched groups of normal controls and nonpsychotic psychiatric controls, the psychotic group had a significantly higher incidence of neurological signs. At baseline, the severity of neurological signs was associated with elevated BPRS total, positive, and negative symptom scores. The change in clinical symptoms was positively correlated with a change in neurological signs.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that some neurological signs are present at the onset of psychosis, and that these signs may be altered by treatment. These abnormal neurological signs reflect an underlying brain function abnormality and may be useful in differential diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment selection.
Scheffer
Russell E
RE
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. rscheffer@chw.org
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents