BACKGROUND: Frontal release signs, a subset of neurological soft signs, are common in schizophrenia. AIMS: To explore the relationship between frontal release signs and neuropsychological tests of frontal lobe function in people with schizophrenia, their siblings and healthy controls. METHOD: Neuropsychological tests and frontal release signs were measured in a cohort of index cases (n=302), their siblings (n=240) and healthy controls (n=346). RESULTS: The mean total score of frontal release signs was 1.5 (s.d.=1.58) in the schizophrenia group, 0.54 (s.d.=0.92) for siblings and 0.42 (s.d.=0.77) for controls. Schizophrenia group scores were greater than healthy control or sibling cohort scores (P < 0.0001), which did not differ. In all three cohorts, right grasp reflex scores positively correlated with number of perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sort Task (P < 0.05). In the schizophrenia group, frontal release signs scores showed an inverse correlation with IQ (R=-0.199, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of relationships between frontal release signs and cognitive assays of cortical dysfunction and the increased frequency of these signs in people with schizophrenia implicate a cortical origin for these clinical signs and evidence of frontal lobe dysfunction in this disorder.
BACKGROUND: Frontal release signs, a subset of neurological soft signs, are common in schizophrenia. AIMS: To explore the relationship between frontal release signs and neuropsychological tests of frontal lobe function in people with schizophrenia, their siblings and healthy controls. METHOD: Neuropsychological tests and frontal release signs were measured in a cohort of index cases (n=302), their siblings (n=240) and healthy controls (n=346). RESULTS: The mean total score of frontal release signs was 1.5 (s.d.=1.58) in the schizophrenia group, 0.54 (s.d.=0.92) for siblings and 0.42 (s.d.=0.77) for controls. Schizophrenia group scores were greater than healthy control or sibling cohort scores (P < 0.0001), which did not differ. In all three cohorts, right grasp reflex scores positively correlated with number of perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sort Task (P < 0.05). In the schizophrenia group, frontal release signs scores showed an inverse correlation with IQ (R=-0.199, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of relationships between frontal release signs and cognitive assays of cortical dysfunction and the increased frequency of these signs in people with schizophrenia implicate a cortical origin for these clinical signs and evidence of frontal lobe dysfunction in this disorder.
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Authors: Robert C Wolf; Dusan Hirjak; Stefan Fritze; Anais Harneit; John L Waddington; Katharina M Kubera; Mike M Schmitgen; Marie-Luise Otte; Lena S Geiger; Heike Tost; Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2021-05-05 Impact factor: 5.270