Neurological Soft Signs and Theory of Mind Deficiencies in Schizophrenia: Is It the Same Endophenotype?
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Description
The search for a mixed endophenotype associating various minor physical signs and social cognition domains in psychotic disorders is a topical subject and rarely explored in the literature. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between neurological soft signs and deficits in theory of mind in patients followed for schizophrenia.
We conducted a cross-sectional study with 66 patients followed for schizophrenia. These subjects were questioned, after their written consent, by a questionnaire containing items specifying socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. The clinical evaluation was made by the Positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), The neuropsychological evaluation was based on the “neurological evaluation scale (NSS) and the Attribution of Intentions Test (TAI).
A negative association was found between the number of correct responses to the TAI and the score of the positive factor of the PANSS on one hand and the score of the disorganization factor of the PANSS on the other hand. This study did not show a significant correlation between deficits in theory of mind and minor neurological signs in patients with schizophrenia, in clinical remission. Other studies on endophenotypes, involving NSS with other areas of social cognition, will be needed.