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Motor symptoms and schizophrenia.
Sebastian Walther1, Werner Strik
1University Hospital of Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland. walther@puk.unibe.ch
Neuropsychobiology
|July 21, 2012
Summary
Motor symptoms are common in schizophrenia, particularly in never-medicated patients. Research links these motor abnormalities to neurodevelopmental disturbances and white matter changes in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Motor symptoms were historically considered characteristic of schizophrenia.
- The advent of neuroleptic drugs led to skepticism about genuine motor disorders in schizophrenia.
- Renewed interest emerged with observations in never-medicated patients, highlighting diverse motor symptoms like parkinsonism and catatonia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on motor symptoms in schizophrenia.
- To explore the potential pathobiology and neurodevelopmental links of these symptoms.
- To investigate the association between motor abnormalities and white matter structure.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on motor symptoms in schizophrenia.
- Analysis of findings from post-mortem and neuroimaging studies.
- Examination of animal models focusing on neurotransmission and genetics.
Main Results:
- Motor symptoms are prevalent in schizophrenia, with diverse and overlapping presentations.
- Aberrant structure and function in motor cortices, basal ganglia, thalamus, and white matter tracts are implicated.
- Abnormal oligodendrocyte function and myelination suggest a key role for white matter.
Conclusions:
- Motor symptoms in schizophrenia are strongly linked to neurodevelopmental disturbances.
- These symptoms may represent a distinct syndromal dimension with unique pathophysiology.
- White matter abnormalities are significantly associated with motor deficits in schizophrenia.
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