>> SCHIZOPHRENIA - section: PSYCHIATRY 3/12 <<
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LEVEL 1: the dermatoglyphics and schizophrenia.
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The relationship between the dermatoglyphcs of the hands and schizophrenia has been the major topic in over 50 scientific research studies.
The most consequent research results indicate that the following 4 aspects of the dermatoglyphics are most relevant in this matter:
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1 – a high number of whorls on the tips of the fingers
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2 – a relatively low number of dermal ridges between the a-triradius and the b-triradius
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3 – variations between the right- and left hand
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4 – broken dermal ridges.
Figure C-1: the most important fingerprint patterns.
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Ad 1: a high number of whorls on the tips of the fingers.
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The results of various studies indicate that schizophrenia is frequently accompagnied with whorls on the tips of the fingers
(or other complex dermatoglyphic patterns, e.g.: a double loop)1-3.
This is also indicated by a high ‘total finger ridge count’ (TFRC).
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However, the relationship between fingerprint patterns and schizophrenia is probably also related to a situation where all fingers have the same dermatoglyphic pattern.
In a study executed by Charlotte Wolff in the hands of 11 subjects within a sample of 245 schizophrenics (= 4.5%), all 10 fingertips had an arch pattern.
Normally the combination of 10 arches (on all fingers) is observed in about 1 out of 500 subjects.
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Ad 2: a relatively low number of dermal ridges between the a-triradius and the b-triradius.
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Another interesting phenomenon concerns the number of dermal ridges between the a-triradius (= the palmar triradius below the index finger) and the b-triradius (= the palmar triradius below the middle finger): see figure C-2 on the next page.
In the hands of schizophrenics this so-called 'a-b ridge count' (ABRC) appears to be low frequently4-6.
By the way, the preceeding paragraph described that a low 'a-b ridge count' is usually accompagnied with a horizontal progression of the A-line: see figure B-2C on page 7 of this course.
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Sources:
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1 - Maricq, H.R. (1979). Fingerprint pattern frequencies in schizophrenics. Importance of ethnic origin and plexus visualization score ratings. Human Heredity, 29 (5), p.314-319.
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2 - Varma, S.L. (1995). Dermatoglyphic patterns in schizophrenics. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 91, p.213-215.
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3 - Sivkov, S. & Akabaliev, V. (1998). Dermatoglyphics in schizophrenia: quantitative aspects. Folia. Med. (Plovdiv), 40 (3), p.44-50.
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4 - Fananas, L. et al. (1996) Dermatoglyphic a-b ridge count as a possible marker for developmental disturbance in schizophrenia: replication in two sample. Schizophrenia Research, 20, p.307-314.
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5 - Fearon, P. et al. (2001). Is reduced dermatoglyphic a-b ridge count a reliable marker of developmental impairment in schizophrenia? Schizophrenia Research, 50, p.151-157.
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6 - Davis, J.O. & Bracha, H.S. (1996). Prenatal growth markers in schizophrenia: a monozygotic co-twin control study. American Journal of Psychiatry, Sep; 153 (9), p.1166-1172.
- CONTENT: Schizophrenia, dermatoglyphics, whorls, fingerprint, triradius, skinridges, a-b ridge count, Charlotte Wolff -
