Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/94059
Title: Association between neurological signs and cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives
Authors: McDonald, Colm
Toulopoulou, Timothea
Grech, Anton
Walshe, Muriel
Murray, Robin M.
Keywords: Neurodevelopmental disorders -- Case studies
Schizophrenics -- Intelligence levels
Schizoaffective disorders
Schizophrenia -- Genetic aspects
Issue Date: 2000
Publisher: Elsevier
Citation: McDonald, C., Toulopoulou, T., Grech, A., Walshe, M., & Murray, R. M. (2000). Association between neurological signs and cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected relatives. Schizophrenia Research, 41(1), 91.
Abstract: Subtle neurological signs and neuropsychological deficits have been consistently reported in schizophrenia. However, the relationship between these impairments and the relative genetic and environmental contributions to their aetiology remain unclear. We explored these issues by correlating levels of neurological and neuropsychological impairment in patients with schizophrenia (n=26) and their well relatives (n=35). Neurological signs were measured using an adapted Neurological Evaluation Scale and divided into integrative and primary subtypes. Neuropsychological function was examined using a battery of cognitive tests including assessments of current and premorbid intelligence, verbal and visual episodic memory and shifting mental sets. The data were analysed using linear regression, controlling for age, gender and the effects of neuroleptic medication as measured by the AIMS and the TAKE scales. There was no relationship between neurological signs and current or premorbid intelligence in either group. Having controlled for impairment of motor coordination, increased Trail Making times for Part A were associated with both integrative signs (p=0.038) and primary signs (p=0.035) in schizophrenic patients and with integrative signs in their relatives (p=0.005). In addition, increased Trail Making times for Part B were associated with integrative signs in schizophrenic patients (p = 0.003). These data suggest that deficits of complex visual scanning and conceptual tracking in patients with schizophrenia are associated with neurological impairment, especially non-localised neurological deficit. This association was also found in their relatives, suggesting that dysfunctional connectivity accounting for both impairments may be genetically transmitted
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/94059
ISSN: 1573-2509
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacM&SPsy



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