Introduction/Objective Craniofacial dysmorphology has been shown as the most prominent among physical anomalies in schizophrenia patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of craniofacial anomalies in Serbian schizophrenia patients. Methods A list of 27 minor physical anomalies (modified Waldrop scale) and nine ratios of craniofacial measures was used to detect the presence of craniofacial dysmorphology in 126 schizophrenia patients and 124 healthy controls. Results Compared to the healthy subjects, schizophrenia patients had significantly higher rates of the following minor physical anomalies: fine hair, two or more hair whorls, fused eyebrows, wide nose basis, low-seated ears, high steepled and high flat palate, and furrowed tongue (most prevalent were vertical fissures and diffusely distributed fissures) with significance of p ≤ 0.001. The best predicting parameters for distinguishing between schizophrenics and controls were the inner canthus distance, the outer canthus distance, hair whorls (all at level p = 0.000), and high steepled palate (p ≤ 0.001).
ConclusionThe results of the present study confirm the neurodevelopmental concept of schizophrenia, being potentially useful for further psychiatric-anthropological research. Clinical significance is reflected in the possibility of monitoring the potential mental illness in childhood through potential ectodermal markers, as well as the possibility of their comparison with the psychological profile in early adolescence.
The expansion of medical knowledge supported by rapid progress of information
technologies led to important changes of medical education concept, as well
as volume and content of medical curriculum. Anatomy teaching has gone
through many restrictive measures. First, the number of lessons has been
reduced and subsequently focus from systematic and regional anatomy has been
moved to clinical anatomy with the aim of practical integration of knowledge
in clinical conditions. Today the justification of cadaver dissection that is
considered to be the backbone of traditional anatomy teaching is being
questioned. Numerous problems are associated with the cadavers use in
teaching, including their accessibility, preservation and ethical
justification. Cadaver dissection has alternatives in real anatomical models,
as well as in virtual multimedia, ranging from simple linear to
sophisticated, interactive, augmentative reality. Although, the use of modern
technologies is estimated by some lecturers as the act of dehumanization of
medicine and criticized as insufficiently student oriented, it is considered
justified only as a supplement to traditional dissection method and
demonstration on cadaver material. Anatomists are put in front of very
delicate task to integrate the positive aspects of traditional and modern
teaching, with the aim to motivate students and provide conditions for better
knowledge retention. This paper deals with problems and challenges facing
contem?porary anatomy teaching from the perspective of the Department of
Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.