Neurological soft signs and positive treatment response to olanzapine in chronic schizophrenia

The goal of this study is to examine if Neurological Soft Signs (NSS) scores may improve on an 8-week olanzapine treatment in 10 patients with chronic schizophrenia. The patients were rated every 2 weeks on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Baseline and endpoint NSS scores were evaluated by the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). The results demonstrated that baseline total PANSS and subscale scores of positive and general symptomatology, and baseline CGI scores were significantly reduced at the end of olanzapine treatment. There were no significant differences between baseline and endpoint subscale scores of negative symptomatology. We have also found no significant differences between baseline and endpoint total and subscale scores of NES. Baseline total scores of NES were significantly correlated only with negative schizophrenic symptoms at baseline. Our findings indicate that NSS may not improve in schizophrenic patients with olanzapine treatment.