Longitudinal study of neurological soft signs in first-episode early-onset psychosis

Background: In recent decades, the assessment of neurological soft signs (NSS) in patients with psychosis has become a subject of special interest. The study of the progression of NSS during adolescence will provide valuable information about the role of NSS as endophenotypes or biomarkers and about brain development at a stage in which brain maturation has not yet been completed. Methods: Neurological soft signs were assessed in a sample of 110 first episodes of early‐onset psychosis (EOP) and 98 healthy children and adolescents at two different times in a 2‐year follow‐up period. Results: Patients with EOP showed more NSS than controls both at baseline (p