Tessa's handprint, 1973Minor physical anomalies are nonobvious but measurable physical deviations of the head, hands, and feet that are caused by effects on the developing fetus. Examples of such anomalies include low-set ears, a high arched palate, a curved fifth finger, and a wide space between the first and second toes. Occasional anomalies are found in normal persons, but they are found more frequently in people who have various kinds of brain dysfunctions. Since 1983 six separate studies have reported that individuals with adult onset schizophrenia have an excess number of minor physical anomalies compared to normal controls. Four additional studies have reported the same finding for childhood onset schizophrenia and autism. - Surviving Schizophrenia (Third Edition, 1995), E. Fuller TorreyWhile Tessa was growing up, we often discussed her crooked little fingers. In 1974, during a visit to England, I mentioned them to my father, a retired dentist. I said I felt sure they signified something. He said he thought they were "just one of those things (in life)". We continued to worry about them, until we noticed that they seemed to be gradually straightening. Today, in 2004, they appear to be normal. |