Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T08:49:10.434Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Minor Physical Anomalies and their Relationship to the Aetiology of Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Kieran C. Murphy  and
Michael J. Owen
Kieran C. Murphy*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine
Michael J. Owen
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychological Medicine and Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine
*
Dr K. Murphy, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, Wales. Fax: 01222 747839
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background

Previous reports have suggested an increased prevalence of minor physical anomalies (MPAs) in schizophrenia.

Method

A review of the literature was performed to examine the relationship between MPAs, schizophrenia and other disorders.

Results

Previous studies demonstrate a number of methodological shortcomings. Moreover, MPAs are found in several other psychiatric disorders. Proponents of the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia have focused on an environmental explanation for the increased prevalence of MPAs. We argue that this may be overly simplistic and propose various ways in which genetic factors may also be involved.

Conclusions

Better studies should be performed to examine more precisely the nature of MPAs in schizophrenia and other disorders and also the relationship between MPAs and other developmental abnormalities. At present, it is unclear if MPAs are directly related to the pathogenesis of the disorder or even if they are related to the timing of critical events.

Type
Editorial
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 168 , Issue 2 , February 1996 , pp. 139 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

References

Bassett, A. S. (1992) Chromosomal aberrations and schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 323–334.Google Scholar
Blum-Hoffmann, E., Rehder, H. & Langenbeck, U. (1988) Skeletal anomalies in trisomy 21 as an example of amplified developmental instability in chromosome disorders: A histological study of the feet of 21 mid-trimester fetuses with trisomy 21. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 29, 155–160.Google Scholar
Bracha, H. S., Torrey, E. F., Bigelow, L. B., et al (1991) Subtle signs of prenatal maldevelopment of the hand ectoderm in schizophrenia: A preliminary monozygotic twin study. Biological Psychiatry, 30, 719–725.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell, M., Geller, B., Small, A. M., et al (1978) Minor physical anomalies in young psychotic children. American Journal of Psychiatry 135, 573–575.Google Scholar
Firestone, P., Peters, S., Riviere, M., et al (1978) Minor physical anomalies in hyperactive, retarded and normal children and their families. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 19, 155–160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Green, M. F., Satz, P., Gaier, D. J., et al (1989) Minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 15, 91–99.Google Scholar
Green, M. F., Bracha, H. S., Satz, P., et al (1994a) Preliminary evidence for an association between minor physical anomalies and second trimester neurodevelopment in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research, 53, 119–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Green, M. F., Satz, P. & Christenson, C. (1994b) Minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia patients, bipolar patients, and their siblings. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 20, 433–440.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gualtieri, C. T., Adams, A., Shen, C. D., et al (1982) Minor physical anomalies in alcoholic and schizophrenic adults and hyperactive and autistic children. American Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 640–643.Google ScholarPubMed
Guy, J. D., Majorski, L. V., Wallace, C. J., et al (1983) The incidence of minor physical anomalies in adult male schizophrenics. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 9, 571–582.Google Scholar
Hamilton, W. J., Boyd, J. D. & Mossman, H. W. (1972) Human Embryology: Prenatal Development of Form and Function. Cambridge: Heffer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kraepelin, E. (1896) Dementia praecox. Psychiatrie (5th edn). Leipzig: Barth.Google Scholar
Krouse, J. P. & Kauffmann, J. M. (1982) Minor physical anomalies in exceptional children: A review and critique of research. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10, 247–264.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leary, R. F., Allendorf, F. W. & Knudsen, K. L. (1983) Developmental stability and enzyme heterozygosity in rainbow trout. Nature, 301, 71–72.Google Scholar
Lohr, J. B. & Flynn, K. (1993) Minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia and mood disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 19, 551–556.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Markow, T. A. (1992) Genetics and developmental stability: an integrative conjecture on aetiology and neurobiology of schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine, 22, 295–305.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Markow, T. A. & Gottesman, I. I. (1989) Dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry in psychotic twins. Psychiatry Research, 29, 37–43.Google Scholar
McGuffin, P., Owen, M. J., O'Donovan, M. C., et al (1994) Schizophrenia. In Seminars in Psychiatric Genetics, pp. 87–109. London: Gaskell.Google Scholar
Mednick, S. A., Machon, R. A., Huttunen, M. O., et al (1988) Adult schizophrenia following prenatal exposure to an influenza epidemic. Archives of General Psychiatry, 45, 189–192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, R. M., O'Callaghan, E., Castle, D. J., et al (1992) A neurodevelopmental approach to the classification of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 18, 319–332.Google Scholar
Nishimura, H. (1983) Atlas of Human Prenatal Histology. New York: Igaku-Shoin.Google Scholar
Nowakowski, R. S. (1987) Basic concepts of CNS development. Child Development, 58, 568–595.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Callaghan, E., Larkin, C., Kinsella, A., et al (1991) Familial, obstetric and other clinical correlates of minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 479–483.Google ScholarPubMed
Petty, L. K., Ornitz, E. M., Michelman, J. D., et al (1984) Autistic children who become schizophrenic. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 129–135.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shapiro, B. L. (1975) Amplified developmental instability in Down's syndrome. Annals of Human Genetics, 38, 429–437.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, D. W. (1976) Recognisable Patterns of Human Malformation: Genetic, Embryologic and Clinical Aspects. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.Google Scholar
Taylor, A. I. (1968) Autosomal trisomy syndromes: a detailed study of 27 cases of Edwards' syndrome and 27 cases of Patau's syndrome. Journal of Medical Genetics, 5, 227–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waddington, C. H. (1957) The Strategy of the Genes. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Waldrop, M. F., Pederson, P. A. & Bell, R. Q. (1968) Minor physical anomalies and behaviour in preschool children. Child Development, 39, 391–400.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.