Comparative dermatoglyphic study of schizophrenic patients: evidence of the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to establish the discriminating value of dermatoglyphic traits between schizophrenic patients and mentally healthy individuals.

Patients And Methods: The study included 76 schizophrenic inpatients (43 men, 33 women, mean age 31.47 years), who satisfied the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 82 mentally healthy subjects of Bulgarian origin of mean age 39.24 years. Fingerprints were obtained by the ink method. Ridge count was read by the method of Cummins and Midlo.

Results: The male schizophrenic patients showed a significantly higher total finger ridge count of each hand and TFRC than the control group. On the right hand, statistically significant differences were found for D2 and D5. On the left hand, the differences reached statistical significance for L1, L2 and L5. The schizophrenic females had lower ridge count than the control group females. The differences were most expressed for the total ridge count of the left hand (TFRCL) and total ridge count of both hands (TFRC), but did not reach statistical significance. On the right hand the greatest between-group differences were found for D1 and D4, which were just short of reaching statistical significance (p > 0.05). On the left hand the greatest differences (almost reaching statistical significance) were found for L1. Of the other fingers the greatest differences showed L3 and L4.

Conclusion: Total finger ridge count appears to be a sensitive trait indicating disorders of prenatal neurodevelopment in schizophrenia.