The Incidence of Minor Physical Anomalies in Adult Male Schizophrenics

Abstract

The Waldrop anomaly score was used to assess the incidence of minor physical anomalies among 40 adult male Caucasian schizophrenics. This sample had a higher group mean anomaly score than that reported for the normal population (p less than .001). Those with higher anomaly scores evidenced poorer premorbid adjustment (p less than .05). A significant relationship also existed between anomaly scores and the subset of premorbid adjustment, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Vocabulary scores, and the Neurological Impairment Index (p less than .05). These results suggest that first trimester developmental abnormalities, as reflected by the high incidence of anomalies, may parallel some form of central nervous system disturbance which may, in some cases, predispose toward the eventual development of schizophrenia. Implications of these findings, along with suggestions for further research, are considered.

Dissecting the genetic complexity of schizophrenia

“…Recent studies have started providing additional information regardmental retardation were also prevalent. This study extends previous studies that have reported an neurological disorders is known to arise from the expansion of trinucleotide repeats between generations increased prevalence of certain minor physical abnormalities in schizophrenic patients [22][23][24][25] and suggests of affected individuals. 150 The evidence for dominant inheritance and anticipation, the apparent prevalence that other microdeletions (among other potential etiologies) may be causing the dysmorphic features of dominant genes in schizophrenia as well as the high frequency of human brain genes containing trinucleoidentified.…”

Schizophrenia and viral infection during neurodevelopment: a focus on mechanisms

“…1 Minor physical malformations such as craniofacial asymmetries or dermatoglyphic irregularities are also increased in patients with schizophrenia suggesting an association with aberrant morphogenesis. 5,6 These physical abnormalities occurring outside the brain are considered nonspecific indicators of schizophrenia and are not thought to be involved in disease causation; however, from the perspective of a viral etiology this apparently reasonable assumption cannot be taken for granted because subtle defects in peripheral development could include immune tissues (eg, tonsillar lymphatics, thymus) and thus alter viral susceptibility or immune responses.…”

Neurodevelopmental risk factors in schizophrenia

“…Several neurological disorders like epilepsy, mental retardation and learning disabilities are associated with the presence of these anomalies. Studies comparing schizophrenic patients with normal controls also found an excess of MPAs in schizophrenics (15,16). In a study correlating MPAs with Wechsler Scale performance a strong correlation of MPAs with lower verbal IQ and poor premorbid adjustment was observed (16).…”

“…MPA found in the cephalic area, hands, and feet can indicate a neurodevelopmental problem dating back to the first gestational quarter. DM consists of digital and palmar line alterations and indicates second-trimester developmental problems (13)(14)(15)(16)(17).…”