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Published on: December 2, 2015
Minor physical anomalies in patients with schizophrenia, unaffected first-degree relatives, and healthy controls: a
Ting Xu1, Raymond C K Chan, Michael T Compton
1Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Background:
Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) have been found to be more prevalent in schizophrenia than control participants in numerous studies and may index a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia.
Aim:
To quantitatively define the magnitude of the difference in total MPA scores between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls; to determine the degree of manifestation in unaffected first-degree relatives compared to patients and controls; and to investigate the degree of sensitivity among individual MPA items.
Methods:
A systematic search was conducted on the literature pertaining to MPAs in patients with schizophrenia and unaffected relatives. Effect sizes (Cohen's d and odds ratios) and corresponding confidence intervals were combined using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software package.
Results:
A large difference was found when examining 14 studies comprising 1207 patients with schizophrenia and 1007 healthy controls (d = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.63, 1.27). Six studies involving relatives of individuals with schizophrenia showed a medium effect size (d = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.29,0.62) between patients and relatives, but a small and non-significant effect size (d = 0.32, 95% CI = -0.08, 0.73) between relatives and controls. The majority of MPAs items showed significant odds ratios (1.26-9.86) in comparing patients and controls.
Conclusions:
The findings indicate that medium effect size of MPAs have been demonstrated in patients with schizophrenia as compared to healthy controls, and to a lesser extent in unaffected relatives. These findings are consistent with the idea that MPAs may represent a putative endophenotype for schizophrenia. However, more research including first-degree family members is warranted.
Insights
Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are more common in schizophrenia patients than controls, and also present in relatives, suggesting MPAs may be an endophenotype for schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
Background:
- Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are more prevalent in schizophrenia patients compared to controls.
- MPAs may serve as a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- Quantify the difference in total MPA scores between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.
- Assess MPA manifestation in unaffected first-degree relatives compared to patients and controls.
- Investigate the sensitivity of individual MPA items.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search on MPAs in schizophrenia patients and unaffected relatives.
- Meta-analysis of effect sizes (Cohen's d, odds ratios) and confidence intervals using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.
Main Results:
- A large effect size (d=0.95) for MPAs was found between schizophrenia patients and controls (1207 patients, 1007 controls).
- A medium effect size (d=0.45) was observed between patients and relatives.
- A small, non-significant effect size (d=0.32) was found between relatives and controls.
Conclusions:
- MPAs are present in schizophrenia patients and, to a lesser extent, in unaffected relatives.
- These findings support the hypothesis that MPAs may represent a putative endophenotype for schizophrenia.
- Further research involving first-degree relatives is recommended.
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