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Meta-Analysis
. 2010 Nov;36(6):1089-104.
doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbp011. Epub 2009 Apr 17.

Neurological soft signs in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis

Raymond C K Chan  1 , Ting Xu, R Walter Heinrichs, Yue Yu, Ya Wang
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Neurological soft signs in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis

Raymond C K Chan et al. Schizophr Bull. 2010 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Neurological soft signs (NSS) are hypothesized as candidate endophenotypes for schizophrenia, but their prevalence and relations with clinical and demographic data are unknown. The authors undertook a quantification (meta-analysis) of the published literature on NSS in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. A systematic search was conducted for published articles reporting NSS and related data using standard measures in schizophrenia and healthy comparison groups.

Method: A systematic search was conducted for published articles reporting data on the prevalence of NSS in schizophrenia using standard clinical rating scales and healthy comparison groups. Meta-analyses were performed using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis software package. Effect sizes (Cohen d) indexing the difference between schizophrenic patients and the healthy controls were calculated on the basis of reported statistics. Potential moderator variables evaluated included age of patient samples, level of education, sample sex proportions, medication doses, and negative and positive symptoms.

Results: A total of 33 articles met inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. A large and reliable group difference (Cohen d) indicated that, on average, a majority of patients (73%) perform outside the range of healthy subjects on aggregate NSS measures. Cognitive performance and positive and negative symptoms share 2%-10% of their variance with NSS.

Conclusions: NSS occur in a majority of the schizophrenia patient population and are largely distinct from symptomatic and cognitive features of the illness.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Funnel Plot for the Meta-analysis of Differences in Neurological Soft Signs Total Scores Between Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Funnel Plot for the Meta-analysis of Differences in Neurological Soft Signs Motor Coordination Scores Between Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Funnel Plot for the Meta-analysis of Differences in Neurological Soft Signs Sensory Integration Scores Between Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Funnel Plot for the Meta-analysis of Differences in Neurological Soft Signs Complex Motor Sequencing Scores Between Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Funnel Plot for the Meta-analysis of Correlation Between NSS Total Scores and Neurocognitive Test Scores in Schizophrenia Patients.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
Funnel Plot for the Meta-analysis of Correlation Between NSS Total Scores and Symptom Scores in Schizophrenia Patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

Appendix II: Studies Included in Meta-analysis

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    1. Aydemir C, Goka E, Kisa C, Kurt A, Yuksel FV. Dyskinesia and soft neurological signs in schizophrenia: a comparative study. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2005;9:238–243. - PubMed
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    1. Bersani G, Orlandi V, Gherardelli S, Pancheri P. Cannabis and neurological soft signs in schizophrenia: absence of relationship and influence on psychopathology. Psychopathology. 2002;35:289–295. - PubMed
    1. Biswas P, Malhotra S, Malhotra A, Gupta N. Comparative study of neurological soft signs in schizophrenia with onset in childhood, adolescence. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2007;115:295–303. - PubMed

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