Dyskinesia and soft neurological signs in schizophrenia: a comparative study

Objective. Several neurological abnormalities can be found at a greater frequency in patients with schizophrenia, including neurological soft signs (NSS) and signs of the "pyramidal" and "extrapyramidal" systems. We aimed to explore the frequency of movement disorders in patients with antipsychotic naïve schizophrenia and to compare and contrast with antipsychotic-treated patients and healthy controls. Methods. Twenty-two antipsychotic naive schizophrenic patients, 22 antipsychotic treated patients and 22 healthy control subjects were assessed by Neurological Evaluation (NES), Abnormal Involuntary Movements (AIMS), and Positive and Negative Syndrome (PANSS) Scales. Results. The NES scores of the never-medicated schizophrenic group were significantly higher than those of normal controls but did not differ significantly from the medicated group. Dyskinesia rates in the both schizophrenic groups were higher than in healthy controls. Medicated and non-medicated schizophrenic patient scores did not differ in AIMS with regard to facial and oral movements, but medicated patients scored higher than non-medicated subjects with respect to extremity movements. Conclusion. Our data suggest that: soft neurological signs and abnormal involuntary movements in the facial region are more prevalent in patients with schizophrenia, whether they are medicated or antipsychotic naïve. On the contrary, abnormal involuntary movements in the trunk and the extremities seem to be associated with medication.