title: Minor physical anomalies and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a prospective investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors prospectively assessed the relationship between minor physical anomalies identified in childhood and adult psychiatric outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1972, minor physical anomalies were measured in a group of 265 Danish children ages 11-13. The examination was part of a larger study investigating early signs of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Many of the subjects had a parent with schizophrenia, leaving them at high risk for developing a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. In 1991, adult psychiatric outcome data were obtained for 91.3% (N=242) of the original subjects, including 81 who were at high risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with a high number of minor physical anomalies developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders significantly more often than they developed a no mental illness outcome. Further, individuals with a high number of minor physical anomalies tended to develop schizophrenia spectrum disorders more often than other psychopathology. Among individuals at genetic high risk, higher numbers of minor physical anomalies may interact with pre-existing vulnerabilities for schizophrenia to increase the likelihood of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minor physical anomalies may provide important clues to understanding schizophrenia spectrum disorders from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Minor physical anomalies appear to signal stressors relevant to schizophrenia spectrum development, especially in those at genetic risk for schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schiffman
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekstrom
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LaBrie
authors.forename: Fini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schulsinger
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: Sarnoff
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mednick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics