Schizophrenia, homicide, and facial anomalies

Patients who have a history of schizophrenia and homicide are more likely to have minor physical anomalies, especially in the head and mouth regions, according to Dr. Tamás Tényi and his associates.

In 44 people with schizophrenia and a history of homicide, 96 minor physical abnormalities were noted in the head and mouth region. In 22 people with schizophrenia and no history of homicide, 13 minor physical anomalies were noted in head and mouth region. Further, minor physical anomalies in other regions were, in general, more common in the homicidal group.

The study results “could support a stronger neurodevelopmental component of etiology in this subgroup of the disease,” the investigators concluded.

Find the full study at Psychiatry Research (doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.012).