Paternal age and specific neurological soft signs as reliable and valid neurobiological markers for the diagnosis of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Advanced parental age at delivery and neurological soft signs (NSS) constitute risk factors for schizophrenia. The aim of the current study was to develop a neurobiological diagnostic index by combining them, and without the contribution of clinical symptomatology. The study sample included 133 patients suffering from schizophrenia according to DSM-IV-TR (77 males and 56 females; aged 33.55 ± 11.22 years old) and 122 normal controls (66 males and 56 females; aged 32.89 ± 9.91 years old). The assessment included the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), and a number of scales assessing the clinical symptoms and adverse effects. The statistical analysis included exploratory t-test, Pearson Correlation coefficient (R) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA). Exploratory t-tests and Pearson's R suggested that sex, parental age and NSS constitute independent components. On the basis of DFA results, the Psychotic Neurological Index was developed. At the cut-off PNI score of 8.5, sensitivity was equal to 94.74 and specificity to 93.44. The current is probably the first study to report on an easily obtainable diagnostic neurobiological marker with identifiable properties which is absolutely independent from the clinical manifestations and could serve in distinguishing between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls with high efficacy.

The Impact of Antipsychotic Treatment on Neurological Soft Signs in Patients with Predominantly Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

“…To date, numerous studies [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ] have concluded that neurological soft signs (NSS) are found in variable proportions in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy subjects or first-degree relatives and are associated with an early age of onset [ 6 , 11 ], a chronic course of illness [ 6 , 11 , 13 , 14 ], negative symptoms [ 15 , 16 , 17 ], lower IQ, lower education achievements, and a higher score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The presence of NSS translates into defects in sensory integration (SI), motor coordination (MC), integrative sensory functioning, and complex motor sequencing [ 18 ].…”

The effect of first- and second-generation antipsychotics on brain morphology in schizophrenia: A systematic review of longitudinal magnetic resonance studies with a randomized allocation to treatment arms

“…It is important to note that the findings seem to be present already during the first episode of schizophrenia (Goff et al, 2018; Lawrie et al, 1999; Mcintosh et al, 2011; Vita et al, 2006) and also before illness onset, during the prodromal phase of the illness (Koutsouleris et al, 2012, 2018; Pantelis et al, 2005). The prevailing conclusion of the so far available data is that brain loss in schizophrenia is related to a combination of (early) neurodevelopmental processes as well as illness progression (Fountoulakis et al, 2020, 2021a,c; Goff et al, 2018; Haijma et al, 2013; Ho et al, 2007, 2011; Lieberman et al, 2001; Mcintosh et al, 2011; Olabi et al, 2011; Vita and De Peri, 2007; Van Haren et al, 2007, 2011; Veijola et al, 2014).…”