Neurological Soft Signs: A Further Step in the Diagnosis of Bipolar-I Disorder

Objectives: To study the prevalence and demographic characteristics of Neurological Soft Signs (NSS) among the patients with Bipolar Mood Disorder-I (BID). Method: In a cross- sectional descriptive-analytic study we studied 20 patients with BID with BID with 20 healthy individuals. We used DSM-IV and Young Mania Rating Scale (MRS) for diagnosing and rating the patients with BID, Neurological Evaluation Scale along for assessment of NSS. Control subjects who were matched on age and sex were selected; other confounding factors such as age at the onset, severity and duration of the disease were also considered and analyzed to find any possible correlation with NSS. Results: Total NSS scores were significantly higher in the patientsʹ group (PV<0.0001). The most significant difference in NSS subscales was detected in the Sequencing of Complex Motor Acts (PV<0.0001). No significant correlation was found between NSS scores and age at the onset of the disease, severity and duration of the disease and medication. Conclusion: This study may emphasize the role of NSS as a sign of organic brain disorder which may be present independent of medication effects in the patients with BID; however, further studies may be able to extend our findings to explore the etiology and pathogenesis of BID.