Neurological abnormalities and cognitive ability in first-episode psychosis

Paola Dazzan, Tuhina Lloyd, Kevin D. Morgan, Jolanta Zanelli, Craig Morgan, Ken Orr, Gerard Hutchinson, Paul Fearon, Matthew Allin, Larry Rifkin, Philip K. McGuire, Gillian A. Doody, John Holloway, Julian Leff, Glynn Harrison, Peter B. Jones, Robin M. Murray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background it remains unclear if the excess of neurological soft signs, or of certain types of neurological soft signs, is common to all psychoses, and whether this excess is simply an epiphenomenon of the lower general cognitive ability present in psychosis. Aims To investigate whether an excess of neurological soft signs is independent of diagnosis (schizophrenia v. affective psychosis) and cognitive ability (IQ). Method Evaluation of types of neurological soft signs in a prospective cohort of all individuals presenting with psychoses over 2 years (n=310), and in a control group from the general population (n=239). Results Primary (P <0.001), motor coordination (P <0.001), and motor sequencing (P <0.001) sign scores were significantly higher in people with any psychosis than in the control group. However, only primary and motor coordination scores remained higher when individuals with psychosis and controls were matched for premorbid and current IQ. Conclusions Higher rates of primary and motor coordination signs are not associated with lower cognitive ability, and are specific to the presence of psychosis.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)197 - 202
Number of pages6
JournalBritish Journal of Psychiatry
Volume193
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2008

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