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Motor System Pathology in Psychosis

  • Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders (S Siegel, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Motor abnormalities are an intrinsic feature of psychosis. Neurological soft signs, Parkinsonism, dyskinesia, and other motor phenomena are frequently observed in subjects at clinical or genetic risk for psychosis as well as first-episode patients, chronic patients. Here, we review the most recent literature on motor assessments and pathophysiology in psychosis.

Recent Findings

Instrumental measures of fine motor performance, balance, spontaneous motor activity, and gesture indicated motor abnormalities in subjects at risk and across stages of schizophrenia. Motor phenomena are associated with distinct symptom dimensions and may indicate poor outcomes. Neuroimaging studies demonstrated altered neural maturation within critical motor networks in subjects at risk. Furthermore, specific categories of motor dysfunction were associated with distinct structural and functional alterations in the motor system in schizophrenia.

Summary

Motor abnormalities provide a unique window into the pathobiology of psychosis and have the potential to guide screening, staging, and outcome prediction.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 21, 3008, Bern, Switzerland

    Sebastian Walther

  2. Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Vijay A. Mittal

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Vijay A. Mittal

  4. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Vijay A. Mittal

  5. Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Vijay A. Mittal

  6. Institute for Developmental Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Vijay A. Mittal

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Correspondence to Sebastian Walther.

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Conflict of Interest

Sebastian Walther reports a grant from Swiss National Science Foundation and personal fees from Ely Lilly, Janssen, and Lundbeck/Otsuka.

Vijay A. Mittal reports a grant from NIMH and a consultancy with Takeda.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

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Walther, S., Mittal, V.A. Motor System Pathology in Psychosis. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 97 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0856-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0856-9

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