1
|
Stephan-Otto C, Lombardini F, Núñez C, Senior C, Ochoa S, Usall J, Brébion G. Fluctuating asymmetry in patients with schizophrenia is related to hallucinations and thought disorganisation. Psychiatry Res 2020; 285:112816. [PMID: 32036154 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry represents the degree to which the right and left side of the body are asymmetrical, and is a sign of developmental instability. Higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry have been observed in individuals within the schizophrenia spectrum. We aimed to explore the associations of fluctuating asymmetry with psychotic and affective symptoms in schizophrenia patients, as well as with propensity to these symptoms in non-clinical individuals. A measure of morphological fluctuating asymmetry was calculated for 39 patients with schizophrenia and 60 healthy individuals, and a range of clinical and subclinical psychiatric symptoms was assessed. Regression analyses of the fluctuating asymmetry measure were conducted within each group. In the patient cohort, fluctuating asymmetry was significantly associated with the hallucination and thought disorganisation scores. T-test comparisons revealed that the patients presenting either hallucinations or thought disorganisation were significantly more asymmetrical than were the healthy individuals, while the patients without these key symptoms were equivalent to the healthy individuals. A positive association with the anxiety score emerged in a subsample of 36 healthy participants who were rated on affective symptoms. These findings suggest that fluctuating asymmetry may be an indicator of clinical hallucinations and thought disorganisation rather than an indicator of schizophrenia disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Stephan-Otto
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Christian Núñez
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Carl Senior
- School of Life & Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK; Research and Development Unit - Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, c/ Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, 08830 - Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Ochoa
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Judith Usall
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gildas Brébion
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
The genes do not control everything that happens in a cell or an organism, because thermally induced molecular movements and conformation changes are beyond genetic control. The importance of uncontrolled events has been argued from the differences between isogenic organisms reared in virtually identical environments, but these might alternatively be attributed to subtle, undetected differences in the environment. The present review focuses on the uncontrolled events themselves in the context of the developing brain. These are considered at cellular and circuit levels because even if cellular physiology was perfectly controlled by the genes (which it is not), the interactions between different cells might still be uncoordinated. A further complication is that the brain contains mechanisms that buffer noise and others that amplify it. The final resultant of the battle between these contrary mechanisms is that developmental stochasticity is sufficiently low to make neurobehavioural defects uncommon, but a chance component of neural development remains. Thus, our brains and behaviour are not entirely determined by a combination of genes-plus-environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter G H Clarke
- Département de Biologie Cellulaire et de Morphologie, Université de Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 9, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Van Dongen S, Gangestad SW. Human fluctuating asymmetry in relation to health and quality: a meta-analysis. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2011.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
4
|
Blanchard JJ, Aghevli M, Wilson A, Sargeant M. Developmental instability in social anhedonia: an examination of minor physical anomalies and clinical characteristics. Schizophr Res 2010; 118:162-7. [PMID: 19944570 PMCID: PMC2856752 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Revised: 10/22/2009] [Accepted: 10/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Developmental instability (DI) refers to the inability of the developing brain to buffer the effects of genetic and environmental insults. This concept has been invoked to better understand how fetal brain development goes awry in schizophrenia and related spectrum disorders. This study examined one marker of DI, minor physical anomalies (MPAs), and its association with a putative indicator of schizotypy, the trait of social anhedonia. MPAs and clinical symptoms were assessed within a community sample of psychometrically identified individuals high in social anhedonia and a matched group of healthy controls. Results indicated that, compared to the controls, MPAs were elevated in the social anhedonia group. Additionally, within the social anhedonia group, MPAs were significantly correlated with clinical ratings of schizoid personality disorder characteristics and also showed strong associations with schizotypal personality disorder ratings. These findings indicate a relationship between developmental anomalies and negative schizotypy and suggest that, when combined with psychometrically identified risk, the presence of MPAs may further elevate the probability of clinical manifestations of schizophrenia-spectrum characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack J Blanchard
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland at College Park, MD 20742, United States.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|