Abstract

Introduction: Dermatoglyphic studies have been associated with many physical, behavioural and pathological traits. Ridge patterns are established early in intrauterine life and serve as effective tools in determining the development of a particular trait. This study was aimed at finding out whether there exists any dermatoglyphic patterns that could serve as predictive tools in the early detection of schizophrenia in a Nigerian population. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 100 Nigerians whose parents and grandparents are Nigerians. They were made up of 50 diagnosed schizophrenic patients (25 males and 25 females) recruited from the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City and 50 healthy controls matched for age and gender. The palms and digits of the subjects were scanned with an HP scanner and images in jpeg format recorded usingan AutoCAD software version 2010 and the images were analyzed for arches, whorls, loops and ridges counted with atd angles measured using standard methods. Results: There was significant increase in loops and decreased in arches in the schizophrenic when compared with the control groups. Also, observed were significant increase in fingerprint patterns on the right 1st digit of female schizophrenic patients, 3rd, 4th and 5th digits on the left side also in female schizophrenics but only on the 4th left digit in male schizophrenics. There was also increase in the mean total finger ridge count (TFRC) in male schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: These findings are indicative of dermatoglyphic variability between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls and could serve as markers in the prediction of schizophrenia in our studied population.

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