title: Obstetric complications and neurological abnormalities in neuroleptic-naive psychotic patients.
abstract: Studies addressing the relationship between a history of obstetric complications (OCs) and neurological abnormalities in schizophrenia have produced contradictory findings. Using a pre-posttreatment design in a neuroleptic-naive sample of psychotic patients, we examined the relationship of a history of OC to primary and drug-induced neurological signs. Fifty neuroleptic-naive non-affective psychotic inpatients were assessed for a history of OC by using the McNeil-Sjöström scale, and for neurological signs including parkinsonism, dyskinesia, akathisia and catatonia, which were rated before and after inception of neuroleptic treatment. A subsample of 28 patients were also examined for neurological soft-signs. Ratings of OCs were related to admission levels of parkinsonism, dyskinesia, akathisia and neurological soft-signs, but not to levels of catatonia. By obstetric period, pregnancy complications were related to levels of parkinsonism, dyskinesia, and neurological soft-signs, and neonatal complications were related to levels of akathisia. Drug-induced neurological signs were not associated with a history of OCs. We argue that the association pattern between a history of OCs and primary neurological signs from several domains suggests a causal link among these variables. Having a history of OCs does not convey a vulnerability for developing drug-induced neurological signs in the short term.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Unit, Virgen del Camino Hospital, Irunlarrea 4, 31008, Pamplona, Spain. victor.peralta.martin@cfnavarra.es
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peralta
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.forename: Jose F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Serrano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000151:congenital; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents