Minor Physical Anomalies and Congenital Malformations Among Children with Psychotic Symptoms: An Exploratory...

Background/Objectives: Minor physical anomalies (MPAs) are subtle morphological markers of disrupted neuroectodermal development occurring during early gestation. Their increased prevalence has been reported in several neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia. However, data on MPAs in pediatric psychosis remain limited. This exploratory descriptive study aimed to characterize the occurrence of MPAs and congenital malformations in children presenting with early-onset psychotic symptoms and to illustrate the clinical heterogeneity through two representative cases. Methods: All participants underwent a comprehensive head-to-toe examination by a trained child and adolescent psychiatrist to identify MPAs. Key anatomical regions, including the face, hair vortex, palate, and extremities, were systematically photographed. Results were corroborated by MRI brain screening and consulted with a clinical geneticist. Anomalies were classified using the standardized Elements of Morphology terminology. Results: Among the 19 study participants, seven (37%) were diagnosed with very early-onset schizophrenia (VEOS). Identified minor physical anomalies included epicanthus (n = 5), café au lait spots (n = 2), and discoloured spots (n = 1). Furthermore, major congenital malformations were detected, specifically Arnold-Chiari malformation type I (n = 1), incomplete hippocampal inversion (n = 1), and a temporal cortex malformation (n = 1). Conclusions: MPAs and selected neuroanatomical anomalies were observed in a subset of children with early-onset psychotic symptoms. While the small sample size and absence of a control group limit interpretability, these exploratory findings suggest that systematic physical examination may provide supportive clinical information in the assessment of pediatric psychosis. Larger, controlled studies are needed to clarify whether specific MPAs may serve as early markers of neurodevelopmental vulnerability.