Characterizing the sensorimotor domain in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Abstract

The rapidly evolving field of sensorimotor neuroscience reflects the scientific and clinical relevance of sensorimotor abnormalities as an intrinsic component of the disease process, e.g., in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Despite previous efforts, however, prevalence rates and relationships between different categories of sensorimotor abnormalities in SSD patients are still subject of ongoing debate. In this study, we examined five different categories of the sensorimotor domain (Neurological soft signs (NSS), parkinsonism, catatonia, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia) according to well-established clinical ratings scales and the respective cut-off criteria in a sample of 131 SSD patients. We used a collection of statistical methods to better understand prevalence, overlap and heterogeneity, as well as psychopathological and cognitive correlates of sensorimotor abnormalities. 97.7% of the SSD patients considered by this study exhibited at least one categorically defined sensorimotor abnormality that tended to co-vary within three different sensorimotor subgroups (moderate, hyperkinetic and hypokinetic). Finally, hyperkinetic and hypokinetic groups differed significantly in their neurocognitive performance compared with the moderate group. The results suggest different patterns of clinical overlap, highlight the relationship between sensorimotor and cognitive domain and provide clues for further neurobiological studies.

The Behavioral Mapping of Psychomotor Slowing in Psychosis Demonstrates Heterogeneity Among Patients Suggesting Distinct Pathobiology

“…23,33,58 Furthermore, all motor measures assessing PS (except IPAQ) correlated with severity of catatonia and parkinsonism, which is in contrast to a prior report in which neither catatonia nor parkinsonism correlated with a single item measure of PS. 67 However, in line with other reports, PS was strongly associated with negative symptom severity. 4,23,[67][68][69] Together, these results suggest that actigraphy could be considered as gold standard to evaluate PS as it is correlating with different domains of psychopathology.…”

“…67 However, in line with other reports, PS was strongly associated with negative symptom severity. 4,23,[67][68][69] Together, these results suggest that actigraphy could be considered as gold standard to evaluate PS as it is correlating with different domains of psychopathology. 20,21,40 One could argue that if expert ratings and actigraphy are giving the same clinical information, then actigraphy that requires time and equipment might not be a good option in clinical settings.…”

Possible Commonalities of Clinical Manifestations Between Dystonia and Catatonia

“…Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging studies have demonstrated that sensorimotor abnormalities are associated with structural and functional changes within the corticalthalamic-cerebellar-cortical circuit, which is intricately linked to schizophrenia itself. In line with this, sensorimotor abnormalities appear to be intrinsic to schizophrenia in a manner that can be improved or exacerbated by antipsychotic medication (9).…”

Dysconnection and cognition in schizophrenia: A spectral dynamic causal modeling study

“…We already discussed the implications of aberrant postsynaptic gain control and excitation–inhibition imbalance in SZ, from the perspective of predictive coding. The fact that abnormal gain modulation in the sensorimotor network is so relevant to the cognitive performance of the patients also speaks to the close relationship between sensorimotor processing deficits and cognitive impairments in SZ (Fritze et al, 2022 ; Kumari et al, 2008 ; San‐Martin et al, 2020 ).…”