Neurological soft signs and cerebral measurements investigated by means of MRI in schizophrenic patients

Abstract Neurophysiologic research has shown a Neurological Soft Sign (NSS) characteristic prevalence in schizophrenic patients, and correlations between NSS and the most frequently cerebral alterations. The aim of this study was to investigate, by means of MRI, the quantitative alterations of cortical and subcortical structures and their correlation with NSS in a sample of schizophrenic patients. Linear measures of lateral ventricular (Evans ratio), third ventricular (Third Ventricular Width), hippocampal (Interuncal Index) and cerebellar (Verm Cerebellar Atrophy) atrophy were made on magnified MR images of 33 patients with a DSM IV diagnoses of chronic schizophrenia. NSS were evaluated with the Buchanan and Heinrichs's Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). Lateral ventricular enlargement showed to be correlated with right stereoagnosia item ( p  = 0.001). Hippocampal atrophy, with right stereoagnosia item ( p  = 0.023), with forefinger-right thumb opposition ( p  = 0.004), forefinger-left thumb opposition ( p  = 0.029 and face-hand extinction (0.26). Third ventricle enlargement showed to be correlated with forefinger-right thumb opposition ( p  = 0.001), forefinger-left thumb opposition( p  = 0.021) and total sensorial integration ( p  = 0.012). Cerebellar atrophy showed to be correlated with rhythmic drumming item ( p  = 0.042), forefinger-right thumb opposition ( p  = 0.007), forefinger-left thumb opposition ( p  = 0.026), left specular movements ( p  = 0.049), face-hand extinction ( p  = 0.001), right-left confusion ( p  = 0.005) and with left forefinger-nose index ( p  = 0.032). Results obtained confirm the correlation between NSS and neuroanatomical alterations in schizophrenia.