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Feng Y, Wang Z, Lin G, Qian H, Gao Z, Wang X, Li M, Hu X, Li Y. Neurological soft signs and neurocognitive deficits in remitted patients with schizophrenia, their first-degree unaffected relatives, and healthy controls. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020; 270:383-391. [PMID: 31123823 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-019-01024-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Neurological soft signs (NSS) and neurocognitive deficits (ND) are highly prevalent in schizophrenia, and have been separately proposed as candidate endophenotypes of schizophrenia. However, few relevant studies focus on remitted patients with schizophrenia (RP) and integrate NSS and ND as a composite endophenotype. This study aimed to explore the NSS and ND and examine the comparative relationship between them in RP, their first-degree unaffected relatives (FDR), and healthy controls, furthermore, to seek potential endophenotypes subitems of NSS and ND and create a composite endophenotype. 86 RP, 86 FDR, and 86 healthy controls were included. NSS and ND were independently assessed with Cambridge Neurological Inventory and MATRICSTM Consensus Cognitive Battery. RP had more NSS and ND than FDR in all subitems except disinhibition, information processing speed, working memory, and visual memory. Similarly, FDR presented poorer performance than controls in all subscales except disinhibition, sensory integration, working memory, and visual memory. Six subitems of NSS and ND met the criteria of endophenotype and the three groups were most accurately classified (71.2%) with these subitems working as a composite endophenotype. Moreover, information processing speed, attention, and social cognition were associated with sensory integration in RP and FDR. These findings add evidences that certain subitems of NSS and ND might be the endophenotypes of schizophrenia and integrating these endophenotypes may prove useful in identifying schizophrenia and high-risk individuals. Furthermore, sensory integration and specific cognitive domains covary, hence suggesting an overlap of compromised underlying neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Feng
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
| | - Zongqin Wang
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
| | - Guorong Lin
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
| | - Hong Qian
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
| | - Zuohui Gao
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
| | - Mingcao Li
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
| | - Xiaohua Hu
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China.
| | - Yi Li
- Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, China
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Psychiatric symptoms mediate the effects of neurological soft signs on functional outcomes in patients with chronic schizophrenia: A longitudinal path-analytic study. Psychiatry Res 2017; 249:152-158. [PMID: 28095336 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurological soft signs (NSS) in motor coordination and sequencing occur in schizophrenia patients and are an intrinsic sign of the underlying neural dysfunctions. The present longitudinal study explored the relationships among NSS, psychiatric symptoms, and functional outcomes in 151 Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia across a 6-month period. The participants completed neurological assessments at baseline (Time 1), psychiatric interviews at Time 1 and 3-month follow-up (Time 2), and self-report measures on daily functioning at 6-month follow-up (Time 3). Two possible (combined and cascading) path models were examined on predicting the functional outcomes. Direct and indirect effects of Time 1 NSS on Time 3 functional outcomes via Time 2 psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using path analysis under bootstrapping. Motor coordination and sequencing NSS did not have significant direct effects on functional outcomes. Motor coordination NSS exerted significant and negative indirect effects on functional outcomes via psychiatric symptoms. These results contribute to a better understanding of the determinants of functional outcomes by showing significant indirect pathways from motor coordination NSS to functional outcomes via psychiatric symptoms. That motor sequencing NSS did not affect functional outcomes either directly or indirectly may be explained by their trait marking features.
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Galindo L, Bergé D, Murray GK, Mané A, Bulbena A, Pérez V, Vilarroya O. Default Mode Network Aberrant Connectivity Associated with Neurological Soft Signs in Schizophrenia Patients and Unaffected Relatives. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:298. [PMID: 29375404 PMCID: PMC5767074 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain connectivity and neurological soft signs (NSS) are reportedly abnormal in schizophrenia and unaffected relatives, suggesting they might be useful neurobiological markers of the illness. NSS are discrete sensorimotor impairments thought to correspond to deviant brain development. Although NSS support the hypothesis that schizophrenia involves disruption in functional circuits involving several hetero modal association areas, little is known about the relationship between NSS and brain connectivity. We explored functional connectivity abnormalities of the default mode network (DMN) related to NSS in schizophrenia. A cross-sectional study was performed with 27 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, 23 unaffected relatives who were unrelated to the schizophrenia subjects included in the study, and 35 healthy controls. Subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans including a functional resting-state acquisition and NSS evaluation. Seed-to-voxel and independent component analyses were used to study brain connectivity. NSS scores were significantly different between groups, ranging from a higher to lower scores for patients, unaffected relatives, and healthy controls, respectively (analysis of variance effect of group F = 56.51, p < 0.001). The connectivity analysis revealed significant hyperconnectivity in the fusiform gyrus, insular and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, inferior and middle frontal gyri, middle and superior temporal gyri, and posterior cingulate cortex [minimum p-family wise error (FWE) < 0.05 for all clusters] in patients with schizophrenia as compared with in controls. Also, unaffected relatives showed hyperconnectivity in relation to controls in the supramarginal association and dorsal posterior cingulate cortices (p-FWE < 0.05 for all clusters) in patients with schizophrenia as compared with in controls. Also, unaffected relatives showed hyperconnectivity in relation to controls in the supramarginal association and dorsal posterior cingulate cortices (p-FWE = 0.001) and in the anterior prefrontal cortex (42 voxels, p-FWE = 0.047). A negative correlation was found between left caudate connectivity and NSS [p-FWE = 0.044, cluster size (k) = 110 voxels]. These findings support the theory of widespread abnormal connectivity in schizophrenia, reinforcing DMN hyperconnectivity and NSS as neurobiological markers of schizophrenia. The results also indicate the caudate nucleus as the gateway to the motor consequences of abnormal DMN connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Galindo
- Neuroimaging Research Group, Neuroscience, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Bergé
- Neuroimaging Research Group, Neuroscience, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.,Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
| | - Graham K Murray
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Institute of Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Mané
- Neuroimaging Research Group, Neuroscience, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.,Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Bulbena
- Neuroimaging Research Group, Neuroscience, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.,Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor Pérez
- Neuroimaging Research Group, Neuroscience, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.,Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Vilarroya
- Neuroimaging Research Group, Neuroscience, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.,Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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