Abstract
Dermatoglyphics are the ridge constellations found on the hand palms and foot soles that are permanently formed by the 24th
week of pregnancy. Associations have been found between adult schizophrenia and irregularities and asymmetries in dermatoglyphics.
Children have not been studied before. The aim of this study was to assess the association between formal thought disorder
(FTD), as a possible forerunner of schizophrenia, in children and asymmetry or discordance (DISC) of the finger prints. 222
children, aged 6–14, from an outpatient department of child psychiatry participated. Finger prints were rated with the three-pattern
system (whorls, loops or arches). FTD criteria were illogical thinking (ILL), loose associations (LA), incoherence (INC),
and poverty of content of speech (POC), as rated by the clinician. When boys with and without DISC were compared, no differences
in FTD were found. In contrast, however, girls with DISC showed significantly more FTD than girls without DISC, t (72) = −2.39, p = 0.02. Further, for boys, only total FTD was positively correlated with DISC of the middle finger, r = 0.20, p = 0.02. For girls, total FTD was positively correlated with DISC of the index finger: r = 0.30, p = 0.02; DISC of the middle finger: r = 0.27, p = 0.03; and with total DISC dichotomous: r = 0.27, p = 0.02. In addition, total DISC correlated positively with ILL: r = 0.31, p = 0.01; LA: r = 0.23, p = 0.05; INC: r = 0.30, p = 0.01; and total FTD: r = 0.31, p = 0.01. Overall, the existence of finger print discordance, as a possible marker of prenatal instability, was associated
with the occurrence of FTD in girls.
week of pregnancy. Associations have been found between adult schizophrenia and irregularities and asymmetries in dermatoglyphics.
Children have not been studied before. The aim of this study was to assess the association between formal thought disorder
(FTD), as a possible forerunner of schizophrenia, in children and asymmetry or discordance (DISC) of the finger prints. 222
children, aged 6–14, from an outpatient department of child psychiatry participated. Finger prints were rated with the three-pattern
system (whorls, loops or arches). FTD criteria were illogical thinking (ILL), loose associations (LA), incoherence (INC),
and poverty of content of speech (POC), as rated by the clinician. When boys with and without DISC were compared, no differences
in FTD were found. In contrast, however, girls with DISC showed significantly more FTD than girls without DISC, t (72) = −2.39, p = 0.02. Further, for boys, only total FTD was positively correlated with DISC of the middle finger, r = 0.20, p = 0.02. For girls, total FTD was positively correlated with DISC of the index finger: r = 0.30, p = 0.02; DISC of the middle finger: r = 0.27, p = 0.03; and with total DISC dichotomous: r = 0.27, p = 0.02. In addition, total DISC correlated positively with ILL: r = 0.31, p = 0.01; LA: r = 0.23, p = 0.05; INC: r = 0.30, p = 0.01; and total FTD: r = 0.31, p = 0.01. Overall, the existence of finger print discordance, as a possible marker of prenatal instability, was associated
with the occurrence of FTD in girls.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0309-2
- Authors
- Esther I. de Bruin, Outpatient Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children’s Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Pieter F. A. de Nijs, Outpatient Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children’s Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Frank C. Verhulst, Outpatient Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children’s Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Anja C. Huizink, Department of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827