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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2003

Open Access 01-12-2003 | Research article

Directional and fluctuating asymmetry in finger and a-b ridge counts in psychosis: a case-control study

Authors: Sukanta Saha, Danuta Loesch, David Chant, Joy Welham, Ossama El-Saadi, Lourdes Fañanás, Bryan Mowry, John McGrath

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2003

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Abstract

Background

Several studies have reported alterations in finger and a-b ridge counts, and their derived measures of asymmetry, in schizophrenia compared to controls. Because ridges are fully formed by the end of the second trimester, they may provide clues to disturbed early development. The aim of this study was to assess these measures in a sample of patients with psychosis and normal controls.

Methods

Individuals with psychosis (n = 240), and normal controls (n = 228) were drawn from a catchment-area case-control study. Differences in finger and a-b ridge count and Fluctuating Asymmetry were assessed in three group comparisons (non-affective psychosis versus controls; affective psychosis versus controls; non-affective psychosis versus affective psychosis). The analyses were performed separately for males and females.

Results

There were no significant group differences for finger nor a-b ridge counts. While there were no group difference for Directional Asymmetry, for Fluctuating Asymmetry measures men with non-affective psychosis had significantly higher fluctuating asymmetry of the index finger ridge count (a) when compared to controls (FA-correlation score, p = 0.02), and (b) when compared to affective psychosis (adjusted FA-difference score, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Overall, measures of finger and a-b ridge counts, and their derived measures of directional and fluctuating asymmetry were not prominent features of psychosis in this sample. While directional asymmetry in cerebral morphology is reduced in schizophrenia, this is not reflected in dermatoglyphic variables.
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Metadata
Title
Directional and fluctuating asymmetry in finger and a-b ridge counts in psychosis: a case-control study
Authors
Sukanta Saha
Danuta Loesch
David Chant
Joy Welham
Ossama El-Saadi
Lourdes Fañanás
Bryan Mowry
John McGrath
Publication date
01-12-2003
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2003
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-3-3

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