title: Minor physical anomalies in patients with bipolar I disorder and normal controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The neurodevelopmental hypothesis is well established in schizophrenia but has received modest empirical support in bipolar disorder. In schizophrenia it is partly based on the higher prevalence of minor physical anomalies (MPAs), established by many well controlled studies. No studies with comparable designs have been performed in bipolar disorder. The present study aims to establish the rate and topographic distribution of MPAs in bipolar I patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 61 patients (25 men, 36 women) with bipolar I disorder and 103 normal subjects (49 men, 54 women) who were examined for MPAs using a modified version of the Waldrop Physical Anomaly Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bipolar I patients showed significantly higher regional MPA scores in 3 distinct regions - mouth, feet and head, as well as in the overall scores for the craniofacial complex, the periphery and the total MPA score. Differences were statistically significant for 3 anomalies - high/steepled palate, big gap between I and II toes and furrowed tongue that made significant contribution to the prediction of the patient-control status in a discriminant analysis model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that aberrant processes of neurodevelopment may contribute to the etiology of bipolar I disorder. The field is open for further research using modern instruments and designs in order to identify potential biological markers for bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Akabaliev
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivkov
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mantarkov
authors.forename: Ferihan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmed-Popova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D005532:Foot Deformities, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006257:Head / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000150:complications; D010808:Physical Examination; D015995:Prevalence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult