AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and topographical distribution of minor physical anomalies (MPAs) in schizophrenia patients and control subjects, and the ability of the items of the Waldrop scale to predict the patient-control status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 128 schizophrenic patients (66 men, 62 women) and 103 normal controls (49 men, 54 women) were evaluated for MPAs with a modifi ed version of the Waldrop scale. RESULTS: Compared with controls, schizophrenia patients showed a higher incidence of almost all studied MPAs, differences being statistically signifi cant for 12 items: fi ne electric hair, abnormal hair whorls, epicanthus, adherent ear-lobes, lower edges of the ears extending backward/upward, malformed ears, asymmetrical ears, high/arched palate, furrowed tongue, smooth/rough spots on the tongue, III toe ≥ II toe, big gap between I and II toe. Some anomalies occurred with almost equal frequency in schizophrenic patients and controls, while others were more than 10 times more common in patients (odds ratio: 0.62 -10.55). The distribution frequency of MPAs in schizophrenia tended to increase in the cranial direction. Nine predictor MPA biomarkers successfully distinguished 81.10% of patients, 81.55% of controls, and 81.30% of all examined subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated incidence of MPA biomarkers in schizophrenia patients implies impaired neurodevelopment that increases the risk for the development of schizophrenia. The pattern of changes in the morphological characteristics suggests they may be a random outcome of a general neurodevelopmental defect or may refl ect different neurodevelopmental defects that allow better characterization of schizophrenia patients subgroups.

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The contradictory data in the literature on dermatoglyphics in mental disorders suggest the need for further studies on these biological markers in order to identify their place in the neurodevelopmental etiological model of these diseases.

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