Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
09:55

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Discriminating value of total minor physical anomaly score on the Waldrop scale between patients with bipolar I

Stefan Sivkov1, Valentin Akabaliev, Mladen Mantarkov

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Psychiatry Research
|July 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) can help classify bipolar I disorder. Higher MPA scores reliably distinguish patients from healthy individuals, supporting neurodevelopmental theories.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Psychiatric diagnostics

Background:

  • Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are subtle structural variations linked to neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
  • Previous research on MPAs in bipolar disorder has produced inconclusive findings.
  • The diagnostic utility of MPAs in differentiating bipolar I disorder requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs as a classification tool for distinguishing bipolar I patients from healthy controls.
  • To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of total MPA (MPA-T) scores.

Main Methods:

  • A modified Waldrop scale was used to assess MPAs in 61 bipolar I patients and 103 controls.
  • Total MPA (MPA-T) scores were analyzed to identify optimal cut-off points for discrimination.
  • Statistical analysis determined sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for various MPA-T scores.

Main Results:

  • Optimal cut-off scores of MPA-T ≥ 4 and MPA-T ≥ 5 effectively discriminated between bipolar I patients and controls.
  • Bipolar I patients showed significantly higher MPA-T scores compared to controls, particularly in outlier cases.
  • Controls typically presented with MPA-T scores ≤ 3, while scores ≥ 6 were rare.

Conclusions:

  • The total MPA (MPA-T) score serves as a reliable indicator for differentiating bipolar I disorder patients from healthy individuals.
  • Findings support the hypothesis of aberrant neurodevelopment underlying bipolar disorder.
  • MPAs show potential as a supplementary diagnostic marker in psychiatric assessments.
Keywords:
Bipolar disorderMinor physical anomaliesNeurodevelopmentPositive and negative predictive valuesSensitivitySpecificityWaldrop scale

Related Concept Videos

Bipolar Disorder01:30

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...