7 – Neurological soft signs in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder: A comparative study in Tunisian sample

ABSTRACTS / Schizophrenia Research 98 (2008) 3–199 attention-deficit disorder (ADD)/attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) lifetime diagnoses were prevalent in BDR, whereas major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders were predominant among SZR. Regarding Axis II diagnoses, 35% of SZR had Cluster A personality disorders or prominent personality traits whereas Cluster B personality disorders dominated in BDR (13%). So far, the study groups do not significantly differ on measures of executive function, working, declarative memory and attention. There is a trend toward lower performance in SZP vs. BDP in speed of comprehension and estimated IQ. SZP and BDP showed similar endophenotypes on smooth pursuit eye movements tasks, PPI (inhibition and facilitation) and P50 ERP, based on the limited data. Conclusions: Although the sample size is small, the results suggest that SZ and BD may have shared cognitive and neurophysiological endophenotypes which possibly indicate vulnerability for psychosis. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.072

6 – THE RELATIONSHIP OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR ILLNESS: SOCIAL COGNITION CONTRIBUTION M. Mazza 1, F. Pacitti 1, A. Valchera 1, R. Pollice 1, V. Michele 1, R. Roncone 1, M. Casacchia 1. 1

University of LʼAquila, LʼAquila, Italy

Presenting Author details: [email protected] Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy, Tel.: +39 328 3239666. Background: Recovery in bipolar disorder is central to its definition but is rarely complete. Previous work has suggested that neuropsychological impairment and social cognition disorders, persist during the euthymic state, but have been confounded partly by mild affective symptoms in remitted patients. The aim of our study is to characterize a neuropsychological profile in bipolar subjects in euthymic phase, in non remitted bipolar subjects and in schizophrenic subjects with an emphasis on social cognition and executive functioning. Methods: Thirty-seven euthymic and 20 non-remitted patients with bipolar disorders were compared with 64 schizophrenic patients and thirty healthy controls on neuropsychological and social cognition tasks. Results: All bipolar patients, like schizophrenics, were impaired on social cognition tasks, attention set shifting, verbal memory and executive functions. In euthymic bipolar group only social cognitive deficit survived controlling for mild affective symptoms. This deficit was related to progression of illness, but was nonetheless present in a subgroup of patients near illness onset, like in schizophrenics. Conclusions: Social cognition deficit may represent a neuropsychological vulnerability in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. These findings add to the growing evidence that common mechanisms may contribute to bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia. Reference: Martínez-Arán, E. et al., Do cognitive complaints in euthymic bipolar patients reflect objective cognitive impairment? Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2005; 74: 295–302. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.073

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7 – NEUROLOGICAL SOFT SIGNS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR I DISORDER: A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN TUNISIAN SAMPLE A. Mechri 1, A. Mrad 1, H. Slama 1, W. Chehade 1, G. Khiari 1, L. Gaha 1. 1 Research Laboratory “Vulnerability to psychotic disorders”, Psychiatry Department, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

Presenting Author details: [email protected] CHU de Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia, Tel.: +216 73 461925; fax: +216 73 460678. Background: Neurological soft signs (NSS) are well described among patient with schizophrenia. However, their specificity to schizophrenia remains discussed. The aim was to compare the NSS scores between samples of schizophrenic and bipolar I disorder patients. Methods: A comparative study was carried on three groups: 66 schizophrenic patients and 33 bipolar I disorder patients recruited in the University hospital of Monastir (Tunisia) and 60 healthy controls recruited from the hospital staff. NSS were assessed with a scale (Krebs et al., 2000). It is a comprehensive and standardized scale composed by 23 items regrouped in five consistent factors: motor coordination, motor integration, sensory integration, quality of lateralization and involuntary movements. Results: Schizophrenic patients had significantly higher NSS total score than bipolar I patients and healthy controls (p b 0.001). The NSS total score in bipolar I patients: 13.2 ± 6.0, was intermediate between those of schizophrenic patients: 19.5 ± 5.2 and healthy controls: 4.2 ± 2.0 (p b 0.001). All NSS sub-scores were higher in schizophrenic patients with significant differences between schizophrenic patients vs. bipolar I patients and schizophrenic patients vs. healthy controls. Furthermore, bipolar I patients had significantly higher sub-scores for motor coordination, motor integration and sensory integration compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: NSS were more prevalent in patients with schizophrenia compared to bipolar I patients. These results can support the hypothesis that NSS are relatively specific to schizophrenia. However, bipolar I patients seem to have more NSS compared to healthy controls, particularly motor and sensory integration signs. Reference: Krebs, M.O., Gut-Fayand, A., Bourdel, M., Dischamp, J., Olie, J., 2000. Validation and factorial structure of a standardized neurological examination assessing neurological soft signs in schizophrenia. Schizophr. Res. 45 (3) 245–260. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2007.12.074

8 – PREDICTORS OF SWITCHING FROM MANIA TO DEPRESSION IN AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY – EMBLEM C. Reed 1, E. Vieta 2, J. Angst 3, J. Bertsch 4, J.M. Haro 4. 1

European Health Outcomes Research, Eli Lilly and Company Ltd., Windlesham, UK 2 Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain