Frontal release signs among patients with schizophrenia, their first-degree biological relatives, and non-psychiatric controls.
BACKGROUND
Frontal release signs (FRS) are a subset of neurological soft signs that are overrepresented among patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives and may be correlated with neuropsychological functioning and chronicity of illness. This study sought to explore FRS and their associations with verbal memory and symptoms of schizophrenia in an African American sample of patients, and FRS and their associations with verbal memory and schizotypal features among first-degree relatives and non-psychiatric controls.


METHODS
FRS, verbal memory, schizophrenia symptoms (in patients), and schizotypal features (in relatives and controls) were assessed in 63 patients with schizophrenia and related disorders, 33 of their unaffected first-degree relatives, and 51 controls.


RESULTS
Patients and their relatives displayed greater FRS than controls. Among relatives and controls, greater FRS were related to greater self-reported disorganized and interpersonal features of schizotypal personality disorder. FRS were not associated with patients' schizophrenia symptoms in the expected direction. In the entire sample, greater FRS were associated with poorer verbal working memory.


CONCLUSIONS
Because they are easy to assess, may be correlated with neuropsychological functioning, and appear to covary with level of genetic diathesis for schizophrenia, the study of FRS may shed light on the neurodevelopmental processes that underlie schizophrenia.
Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Megan K
MK
Gabalda
Paul S
PS
Weiss
Michael T
MT
Compton
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010641:Phenotype; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics