Palate size and shape in schizophrenia. (30th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Delice, Mehtap; Gurbuz, Ozlem; Oflezer, Ceyhan; Kurt, Erhan; Mandali, Gamze
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 244(2016)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2016-10-30
• Subjects: Schizophrenia -- Minor physical anomalies -- Palate -- Gender; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.05.035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: The palate is considered typical of the structures in which schizophrenia-related minor physical anomalies may occur. In this study, we aimed to compare the dimensions and form of palate in patients with schizophrenia with nonpsychiatric controls in a blinded manner. Dental stone casts of 127 patients with schizophrenia and 127 controls were prepared from impressions of the maxillary dental arch. Palate dimensions were measured on the stone casts using a digital caliper and palatometer. Palate length did not differ significantly between the groups, but there was a significant difference in palate width and depth, which were significantly higher in the schizophrenia group. As a result of using multivariate analysis for assessing independent risk factors affecting patients with schizophrenia, furrowed palate shape, palate width, and ellipsoid maxillary dental arch shape were found to be significant. This study also revealed that patients with schizophrenia demonstrate certain gender-related predilections in the differences of palate parameters compared to same-sex controls. As the palate develops in conjunction with both the face and brain, our study findings can significantly contribute to the assumption that there might be structural abnormalities of the palate that could represent specific markers of embryological dysmorphogenesis underlying schizophrenia. Highlights: We investigated the palatal size and shape in schizophrenia. Palatal width and depth were greater in patients with schizophrenia. Furrowed shape palate and ellipsoid dental arch were more common in schizophrenia. Differences in palate parameters in schizoprenics appear to be gender-specific. These results support a neurodevelopmental component of etiology in schizophrenia.