Neurological soft signs in first episode psychosis among psychiatric hospital patients and its relationship with dimensions of psychopathology: A comparative study.

Autor: Nwiyi OK; Department of Mental Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria., Ohaeri JU; Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria., Jidda MS; Department of Mental Health, College of Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria., Danjuma IA; Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria., Onu JU; Department of Mental Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria., Oriji SO; Department of Mental Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria., Uwakwe R; Department of Mental Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal [Niger Postgrad Med J] 2023 Jul-Sep; Vol. 30 (3), pp. 183-192.
DOI: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_77_23
Abstrakt: Background: Neurological soft signs (NSS), as subtle, nonlocalising neurological abnormalities, are considered as the potential markers of psychosis. However, comparative studies of antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and first degree relatives (FDRs) are uncommon. We compared the prevalence and pattern of NSS in FEPs, their healthy FDRs and a healthy non-relatives' control group (HC), highlighted the relationship between NSS and psychopathology and proposed cut-off scores for prevalence studies.
Materials and Methods: Two hundred and two participants per group were recruited. The FEPs were consecutive attendees; FDRs were accompanying caregivers; while the HC were from hospital staff. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Neurological Evaluation Scale were used to assess psychopathology dimensions and NSS, respectively.
Results: Using an item score of two ('substantial impairment'), the prevalence of at least one NSS was: 91.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 86.7%-94.9%), 16.8% (95% CI: 11.8%-22.7%) and 6.5% (95% CI: 3.5%-10.9%), respectively, for FEP, FDRs and HC. FEPs were impaired in a broad range of signs. The noteworthy relationships were as follows: (i) a significant correlation between the negative symptoms' dimension versus number of NSS (r = 0.4), and NSS total score (r = 0.3), (ii) the anxiety/depression dimension correlated negatively with number of NSS (r = -0.3) and (iii) NSS cut across psychosis categories. We propose a cut-off score of ≥ 4 for the number of signs signifying probable impairment.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that, subject to further studies, NSS could be regarded as a broader phenotype of neurologic dysfunction associated with psychosis proness.
Databáze: MEDLINE