title: Neurologic soft signs in schizophrenic patients treated with conventional and atypical antipsychotics.
abstract: Neurologic soft signs (NSS) are considered a somatic feature associated with schizophrenia (DSM-IV) that are present in neuroleptic-treated, as well as untreated or first-episode patients. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of NSS in groups of schizophrenic patients treated with either a conventional neuroleptic medication, haloperidol (n = 37), or atypical antipsychotic medications, risperidone (n = 19), clozapine (n = 34), and olanzapine (n = 18). NSS were assessed with the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), whereas extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), which occur more commonly with conventional neuroleptic treatment, were evaluated using the Simpson-Angus Scale. NES scores were not significantly different between groups. Slight differences were found for 2 items only. The haloperidol group showed higher scores for the "Romberg test," whereas the clozapine group showed higher scores for "short-term memory." There were significant correlations between EPS and NES total score in the haloperidol and risperidone groups. These results demonstrate an overall overlapping of NSS among the groups, confirming their substantial independence from neurologic implications of neuroleptic treatment.
authors: Psychiatric Clinic III, Department of Psychiatric Sciences and Psychological Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via de Torre Argentina 21, 00100 Rome, Italy. bersani@uniroma1.it
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Bersani
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Gherardelli
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Clemente
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Di Giannantonio
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Grilli
authors: Chiara M V
authors: CM
authors: Conti
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Exton
authors: Pio
authors: P
authors: Conti
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Doyle
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Pancheri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000077152:Olanzapine; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003024:Clozapine; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine