Minor physical anomalies (MPA) are defined as unusual morphological features found in less than 4% of the general population, but with no serious medical or cosmetic significance to the bearer. An increase in MPA has been associated with irritability in newborns, hyperactivity, and adult-onset schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. In our study, we wish to determine whether minor physical anomalies serve as a predictor for behavioral variation and whether certain regions of the body are more likely to manifest anomalies related to behavioral problems. To determine the combination of MPA most predictive of behavioral variation, we performed a meta-analysis of existing literature examining the relationship between schizophrenia and MPA. Additionally, we sought to determine the heritability of this trait in a twin design. Twin pairs were recruited from Twinsburg, Ohio during the 2005 annual Twins Day Festival and from the Pittsburgh Registry of Infant Multiplets (PRIM). The only inclusion criterion was that twin pairs were between 5 and 12 years of age. The Stroop Task and the Continuous Performance test were administered to assess attention and impulsiveness in the twin pairs. A 15-20 minute assessment for minor physical anomalies using an expanded version of the standardized Waldrop Physical Anomaly Scale was performed by two investigators. We determined, via meta-analysis, the subset of MPA that is most predictive of schizophrenia. Using a twin design, we estimated the intraclass correlations and heritability of these MPA in a set of 50 twin pairs. We determined that MPA may not be useful as predictors for behavioral variations but may be more useful in specific psychotic populations, specifically schizophrenia. This study has implications for public health because research into the biological etiology of MPA could identify risk factors that would enable early detection and prevention of later psychosis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-04102006-145843 |
| Date | 13 June 2006 |
| Creators | Jenkins, Elizabeth Anne |
| Contributors | Elizabeth A. Gettig, MS, Brion S. Maher, Ph.D, Michael Vanyukov, Ph.D, Jeanette Trauth, Ph.D, Mary L. Marazita, Ph.D, F.A.C.M.G |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04102006-145843/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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