Minor physical anomalies in schizophrenic patients and their siblings

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and type of mi nor physical anomalies in schizophrenic patients and their normal siblings. Method: Sixty adult patients with schizophrenia, 21 siblings of these pati ents, and 75 normal comparison subjects were assessed through use of an ext ended scale consisting of the Waldrop scale and 23 other minor physical ano malies. Results: Patients had significantly more minor physical anomalies t han comparison subjects in all body areas tested and also more minor physic al anomalies in total than their siblings. Hand, eye, and mouth minor physi cal anomalies best discriminated patients from comparison subjects. Sibling s had significantly more minor physical anomalies than normal comparison su bjects. Sixty percent of the patients and 38% of the siblings, but only 5% of the comparison subjects, had a higher rate of minor physical anomalies ( i.e,, six or more). With the exception of ear minor physical anomalies, no association was found between minor physical anomalies in the patient and s ibling in the same family. Conclusions: Higher levels of minor physical ano malies (especially in the eye, mouth, and hand/foot regions) characterize b oth schizophrenic patients and their normal siblings, but there is little s imilarity in these anomalies between patients and siblings in the same fami ly. Thus, one or more genetic or shared environmental factors may increase the risk for development of both minor physical anomalies and schizophrenia in these families at large. Minor physical anomalies associated with schiz ophrenia are frequently found in, but are clearly not limited to, the head or facial region. The Waldrop scale identifies minor physical anomalies str ongly associated with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, assessment of the new it ems clearly indicates that many additional minor physical anomalies are fou nd in schizophrenic patients.