Neurologic examination abnormalities in schizophrenia with and without a history of alcoholism.

Objective: The current investigation examines the impact of a past history of alcoholism on neurologic examination abnormalities in schizophrenia (SZ).

Background: Individuals with SZ have a high rate of comorbid alcohol use disorders (AUDs), but relatively little is known about the potential adverse consequences of alcoholism for neuropsychological and neurologic functioning in SZ. Recent evidence suggests consistent but subtle neurocognitive differences between groups, with more prominent differences in neurologic examination abnormalities.

Method: Thirty-three male patients with SZ or SZ/AUDs were evaluated using a modified Neurologic Evaluation Scale (NES) and ratings for positive and negative symptoms.

Results: The SZ/AUD group exhibited a greater impairment in the Cognitive-Perceptual factor of the Neurologic Evaluation Scale. Greater impairment in the tandem-Romberg factor or in motor items was not found, nor were groups different based on positive or negative symptoms.

Conclusions: A history of alcoholism in SZ is associated with greater overall neurologic impairment, particularly in the area of cognitive-perceptual dysfunction, an area often found to be impaired in patients with schizophrenia without alcoholism.