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Neurological hard signs refer to specific defects in central nervous system (CNS) nuclei tracts or nerves, while neurological soft signs (NSS) represent abnormalities on nonspecific tests, which do not indicate clearly identifiable CNS defects. NSS include phenomena such as: diminished dexterity, cortical sensory loss, choreiform (jerky) movements, and astereognosis (tactile amnesia). To explore the presence of NSS in schizophrenia, three groups of subjects were administered a standard neurological examination: the first included 58 hospitalized schizophrenic patients (37 men and 21 women; average age 35) who had been ill for an average of 11.4 years; the second comprised 31 normal, first-degree relatives of the schizophrenic patients (18 men and 13 women; average age 39); and the third group consisted of normal control subjects (16 women and 22 men; average age 36). Only one relative of each schizophrenic patient could participate in the study. While the schizophrenic group had significantly higher numbers of NSS than the control group, their scores did not differ significantly from the scores of the first-degree relatives. The relative group demonstrated higher NSS scores than the control group, but lower (although not significantly so) NSS scores than the schizophrenic group. In the schizophrenic group, neither length of illness, or current neuroleptic (anti-psychotic) drug dosage was found to be related to NSS. The finding of abnormal NSS in first-degree relatives of schizophrenic patients indicates that NSS may prove to be useful biological markers for schizophrenia in populations at risk. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)