GENETIC LOADINGS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA - A DERMATOGLYPHIC STUDY

Finger and palmar dermatoglyphics of 120 male and 120 female schizophr enics with and without a family history of schizophrenia in first-degr ee relatives were studied in the northwestern part of India. Patients were selected according to specific diagnostic criteria. Significant d ermatoglyphic differences were observed for fingerprint patterns, tota l finger ridge counts and 'atd' angle between the schizophrenics with and those without a positive family history of schizophrenia, suggesti ng a strong ''genetic loading'' (i.e., hereditary factors) in familial cases of schizophrenia. Dermatoglyphic features of isolated schizophr enics also significantly differed from those of controls, thus indicat ing the involvement of genetic factors in the etiology of schizophreni a.