Handedness and schizotypal features in healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
An excess of mixed-handedness has been repeatedly reported in schizophrenia and schizotypy. Handedness is a measure of atypical cerebral lateralization, which is considered as a risk factor for schizophrenia. Several studies have attempted to identify correlations between handedness and dimensions of psychosis but the results obtained so far remain inconclusive.


OBJECTIVE
To explore a possible link between mixed-handedness and the three classical dimensions of psychosis. As speech and language disorders may be associated with cerebral lateralization, we predicted a correlation between mixed-handedness and disorganized dimension.


METHODS
We used the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) to study the correlation between mixed-handedness scores and positive, negative or disorganized dimensions in a sample of 62 healthy subjects.


RESULTS
We found a negative correlation between mixed-handedness and the disorganized dimension of schizotypy, as individuals with prominent mixed-handedness showed more severe disorganization.


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified a link between mixed-handedness and the disorganized dimension that may help to identify genetic vulnerability factors involved in psychosis.
Schürhoff
Franck
F
AP-HP Groupe Henri Mondor-Albert Chenevier, Pôle de Psychiatrie, Créteil, France. schurhof@ext.jussieu.fr
Laguerre
Audrey
A
Roy
Isabelle
I
Beaumont
Jean-Louis
JL
Leboyer
Marion
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires