NEONATAL HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE AND RELATED INDEXES OF DISTURBED FETAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Neonatal head circumference and dermatoglyphic patterns were examined in 60 schizophrenic patients with previous findings of elevated rates of minor physical anomalies. Neonatal head circumference was reduced i n patients vs neonatal matched-controls. Patients did not differ from healthy adult controls on total finger ridge count, a-b palmar ridge c ount, or pattern type asymmetry. No significant relationships were fou nd in patients between neonatal head circumference, dermatoglyphics an d minor physical anomalies, with one exception: reduced a-b palmar rid ge count was associated with abnormalities of the mouth. No relationsh ip was found between patients' neonatal head circumference and their a dult head circumference. Adult male schizophrenic patients had larger head circumference relative to body length than their male controls. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.