Minor physical anomalies in bipolar I and bipolar II disorders - Results with the Méhes Scale

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Psychiatry
• Genetics

Background:

• Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) serve as external indicators of abnormal brain development.
• Increased prevalence of MPAs in bipolar disorder patients suggests a potential neurodevelopmental component.
• Previous research has primarily focused on bipolar I disorder, leaving bipolar II disorder understudied in relation to MPAs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and distribution of MPAs in patients with bipolar I and bipolar II disorders.
• To compare the rate and topological profile of MPAs in bipolar patients against matched healthy controls.
• To explore the potential link between neurodevelopmental deficits and the etiology of bipolar disorders.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Méhes Scale, comprising 57 distinct minor physical anomalies.
• Examined 30 patients diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.
• Examined 30 patients diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.
• Recruited 30 matched healthy control subjects for comparison.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in the total number of MPAs, minor malformations, and phenogenetic variants were observed across the three groups.
• Distinct variations were noted in the ear and mouth regions between bipolar patients and controls.
• Specific anomalies, including furrowed tongue and high arched palate, showed significant differences across all three groups.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the hypothesis that neurodevelopmental deficits may contribute to the etiology of both bipolar I and bipolar II disorders.
• The study highlights the utility of MPAs as potential biological markers in understanding bipolar disorders.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder.