title: Minor physical anomalies are more common among the first-degree unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients - Results with the Méhes Scale.
abstract: Minor physical anomalies are external markers of abnormal brain development,so the more common appearance of these signs among the relatives of schizophrenia patients can confirm minor physical anomalies as intermediate phenotypes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the rate and topological profile of minor physical anomalies in the first-degree unaffected relatives of patients with schizophrenia compared to matched normal control subjects. Using a list of 57 minor physical anomalies (the Méhes Scale), 20 relatives of patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia and as a comparison 20 matched normal control subjects were examined. Minor physical anomalies were more common in the head and mouth regions among the relatives of schizophrenia patients compared to normal controls. By the differentiation of minor malformations and phenogenetic variants, we have found that only phenogenetic variants were more common in the relatives of schizophrenia patients compared to the control group, however individual analyses showed, that one minor malformation (flat forehead) was more prevalent in the relative group. The results can promote the concept, that minor physical anomalies can be endophenotypic markers of the illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, Rét u.2.H, 7623 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hajnal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Györgyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Csábi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, Rét u.2.H, 7623 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nursing and Patients Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Sára
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeges
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Theoretical Mental Health, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Halmai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, Rét u.2.H, 7623 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Dániel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trixler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, Rét u.2.H, 7623 Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Education and Sport Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ákos Levente
authors.initials: ÁL
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, Rét u.2.H, 7623 Pécs, Hungary. Electronic address: tenyi.tamas@pte.hu.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tényi
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities*; D058068:Endophenotypes; D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067029:Physical Appearance, Body / Q000235:genetics; D010808:Physical Examination; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D013285:Strabismus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: Endophenotype; Neurodevelopment; Psychotic disorders; Somatic markers