NEUROLOGICAL SOFT SIGNS (NSS) AND NEUROPS YCHOLOGICAL DEFICITS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Neurological soft signs (NSS) or minor motoric and sensoric deficits a re frequently found in schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to investigate NSS with respect to working, procedural, and declarati ve memory deficits and attentional performance. 50 DSM III schizophren ics were included. Psychopathological symptoms (brief psychiatric rati ng scale/BPRS) and NSS (Heidelberg scale) were evaluated on admission and before discharge. Patients completed a neuropsychological test-bat tery comprising the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Tower of Toron to test, Benton test, Syndrom-Kurztest and d2-test to address working memory, procedural memory and attentional performance. In all patients , the NSS scores varied in the clinical course with a significant decl ine towards discharge. Significant correlations between NSS, formal th ought disorders, activity, and negative symptoms were found. In additi on, NSS were significantly correlated with performance in the WCST (bo th, perseverative errors and number of categories completed), Tower of Toronto test, Benton test, and d2 test. When memory performance was c orrected for attentional performance the significant correlations betw een NSS and working memory performance were confirmed. These findings demonstrate ?hat NSS vary in the clinical course of schizophrenia and suggest that NSS are associated with other neuropsychological, such as mnestic and attentional, deficits.