Postural changes in different stages of schizophrenia is associated with inflammation and pain: a cross-sectional...

To assess the relationship between posture and inflammatory response markers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and von Willebrand factor [vWF]) in schizophrenics.

Forty patients with stable schizophrenia were divided into early-stage (<10 years since first episode, n = 15) and late-stage (≥10 years since first episode, n = 25) groups. Both groups were compared to controls (n = 26). All participants underwent postural assessment by biophotogrammetry. Cases alone underwent blood collection. The significance level was set at 5%, and analyses were carried out in SPSS 18.0.

In the early-stage group, 15 postural angles were significantly different from their reference ranges, whereas in the late-stage group, only seven angles were significantly different. In comparison with the control group, only six angles were significantly different. There was no difference in inflammation markers between the early- and late-stage groups. However, CRP levels were higher in cases with greater disease severity, and vWF was associated with forward head posture. Pain correlated with five postural angles, and late-stage patients reported more pain than early-stage cases.

CRP was associated with disease severity, while vWF and pain were associated with forward head posture, hyperlordosis and scoliosis, suggesting an association between vascular inflammation and pain, with an influence on posture.