Neurological soft signs and structural network changes: a longitudinal analysis in first-episode schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are often reported in patients with schizophrenia and may vary with psychopathological symptoms during the course of disease. Many cross-sectional neuroimaging studies have shown that NSS are associated with disturbed network connectivity in schizophrenia. However, it remains unclear how these associations change over time during the course of disorder.

Methods

In present study, 20 patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 20 controls underwent baseline structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and at one-year follow-up. Structural network characteristics of patients and controls were analyzed using graph theoretical approach based on MRI data. NSS were assessed using the Heidelberg scale.

Results

At baseline, patien

SUBMITTER: Kong L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9830771 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature