Patterns of lateral preference in psychotic patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Human Behavior

Background:

• Lateral preference, including hand-clasping and arm-folding, is a common indicator of brain lateralization.
• Previous research suggests potential links between atypical lateralization and psychiatric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in lateral preference patterns between healthy controls and psychotic patients.
• To explore the relationship between lateral preferences and clinical prognosis in psychotic individuals.

Main Methods:

• Two lateral preference tests (hand-clasping and arm-folding) were administered to 50 healthy controls and 42 psychotic patients, all right-handed.
• Clinical features and prognostic indicators were assessed in the patient group.

Main Results:

• Psychotic patients showed reduced prevalence of left-sided uppermost positions in both hand-clasping and arm-folding compared to controls.
• Right-sided preferences in both tests, combined with right-handedness, were associated with the most favorable clinical prognostic features in psychotics, particularly males.

Conclusions:

• Lateral preference patterns may differ between healthy individuals and those with psychosis.
• Specific lateral preference configurations, especially right-sided ones, might be linked to a better prognosis in male psychotic patients, potentially reflecting underlying hemispheric asymmetries.