Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control
Abstract Motor abnormalities, including psychomotor slowing, are prevalent in a large proportion of individuals with schizophrenia. While postural control deficits have been observed in this population, the impact of motor abnormalities on postural stability remains unclear. This study aimed to obje...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Schizophrenia |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-024-00534-5 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850134024449687552 |
|---|---|
| author | Melanie G. Nuoffer Anika Schindel Stephanie Lefebvre Florian Wüthrich Niluja Nadesalingam Alexandra Kyrou Hassen Kerkeni Roger Kalla Jessica Bernard Sebastian Walther |
| author_facet | Melanie G. Nuoffer Anika Schindel Stephanie Lefebvre Florian Wüthrich Niluja Nadesalingam Alexandra Kyrou Hassen Kerkeni Roger Kalla Jessica Bernard Sebastian Walther |
| author_sort | Melanie G. Nuoffer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Motor abnormalities, including psychomotor slowing, are prevalent in a large proportion of individuals with schizophrenia. While postural control deficits have been observed in this population, the impact of motor abnormalities on postural stability remains unclear. This study aimed to objectively evaluate postural stability in patients with and without psychomotor slowing and healthy controls. Seventy-three schizophrenia patients with psychomotor slowing (PS; Salpêtrière Retardation Rating Scale (SRRS) ≥ 15), 25 schizophrenia patients without psychomotor slowing (non-PS; SRRS < 15), and 27 healthy controls (HC) performed four conditions on the Kistler force plate: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), head reclined with eyes open (EOHR), and head reclined with eyes closed (ECHR). Larger sway areas and higher Root Mean Square (RMS) values indicate lower postural stability, while a lower Complexity Index (CI) reflects reduced adaptability, flexibility, and dynamic functioning of postural control. PS exhibited larger sway areas and higher RMS compared to the other groups. Both PS and non-PS showed reduced complexity in postural control compared to healthy controls, without differences between the two patient groups. Reduced postural stability and complexity were associated with greater expert-rated motor abnormalities, as well as more severe negative symptoms. Additionally, lower complexity was linked to reduced physical activity levels. These findings suggest that psychomotor slowing is associated with lower postural stability, potentially reflecting impaired cerebellar function. Furthermore, the loss of complexity in postural control highlights reduced flexibility, adaptability, and efficiency in the postural control network of individuals with schizophrenia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf32a757c23c4ff2a2b3f3f3bdbe4dfd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2754-6993 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Schizophrenia |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf32a757c23c4ff2a2b3f3f3bdbe4dfd2025-08-20T02:31:48ZengNature PortfolioSchizophrenia2754-69932024-12-0110111210.1038/s41537-024-00534-5Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural controlMelanie G. Nuoffer0Anika Schindel1Stephanie Lefebvre2Florian Wüthrich3Niluja Nadesalingam4Alexandra Kyrou5Hassen Kerkeni6Roger Kalla7Jessica Bernard8Sebastian Walther9Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernTranslational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernTranslational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernTranslational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernTranslational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernTranslational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of BernDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of BernDepartment of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M UniversityTranslational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of BernAbstract Motor abnormalities, including psychomotor slowing, are prevalent in a large proportion of individuals with schizophrenia. While postural control deficits have been observed in this population, the impact of motor abnormalities on postural stability remains unclear. This study aimed to objectively evaluate postural stability in patients with and without psychomotor slowing and healthy controls. Seventy-three schizophrenia patients with psychomotor slowing (PS; Salpêtrière Retardation Rating Scale (SRRS) ≥ 15), 25 schizophrenia patients without psychomotor slowing (non-PS; SRRS < 15), and 27 healthy controls (HC) performed four conditions on the Kistler force plate: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), head reclined with eyes open (EOHR), and head reclined with eyes closed (ECHR). Larger sway areas and higher Root Mean Square (RMS) values indicate lower postural stability, while a lower Complexity Index (CI) reflects reduced adaptability, flexibility, and dynamic functioning of postural control. PS exhibited larger sway areas and higher RMS compared to the other groups. Both PS and non-PS showed reduced complexity in postural control compared to healthy controls, without differences between the two patient groups. Reduced postural stability and complexity were associated with greater expert-rated motor abnormalities, as well as more severe negative symptoms. Additionally, lower complexity was linked to reduced physical activity levels. These findings suggest that psychomotor slowing is associated with lower postural stability, potentially reflecting impaired cerebellar function. Furthermore, the loss of complexity in postural control highlights reduced flexibility, adaptability, and efficiency in the postural control network of individuals with schizophrenia.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-024-00534-5 |
| spellingShingle | Melanie G. Nuoffer Anika Schindel Stephanie Lefebvre Florian Wüthrich Niluja Nadesalingam Alexandra Kyrou Hassen Kerkeni Roger Kalla Jessica Bernard Sebastian Walther Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control Schizophrenia |
| title | Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control |
| title_full | Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control |
| title_fullStr | Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control |
| title_short | Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control |
| title_sort | psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-024-00534-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT melaniegnuoffer psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT anikaschindel psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT stephanielefebvre psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT florianwuthrich psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT nilujanadesalingam psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT alexandrakyrou psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT hassenkerkeni psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT rogerkalla psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT jessicabernard psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol AT sebastianwalther psychomotorslowinginschizophreniaisassociatedwithaberrantposturalcontrol |