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Is left-handedness higher among those suffering from psychosis?

Date:
October 30, 2013
Source:
SAGE Publications
Summary:
Researchers have long studied the connections between hand dominance and different aspects of the human brain. A new study finds that among those with mental illnesses, left-handers are more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia than mood disorders.
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Researchers have long studied the connections between hand dominance and different aspects of the human brain. A new study out today in SAGE Open finds that among those with mental illnesses, left-handers are more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia than mood disorders.

"Our results show a strikingly higher prevalence of left-handedness among patients presenting with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, compared to patients presenting for mood symptoms such as depression or bipolar disorder," wrote the authors.

Authors Jadon R. Webb, et. al examined 107 individuals from a public psychiatric clinic seeking treatment in an urban, low-income community and determined the frequency of left-handedness within the group of patients identified with different types of mental disorders. They found that 11% of those diagnosed with mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder were left-handed, which is similar to the rate in the general population, however, 40% of those with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were left-handed.

The authors discussed additional factors that might be tied to the connection between schizophrenia and left-handedness such the variation of brain lateralization, scholastic achievement or race.

"Our own data showed that whites with psychotic illness were more likely to be left-handed than black patients," the authors wrote. "Even after controlling for this, however, a large difference between psychotic and mood disorder patients remained."


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Materials provided by SAGE Publications. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jadon R. Webb, Mary I. Schroeder, Christopher Chee, Deanna Dial, Rebecca Hana, Hussam Jefee, Jacob Mays, and Patrick Molitor. Left-Handedness Among a Community Sample of Psychiatric Outpatients Suffering From Mood and Psychotic Disorders. SAGE Open, October 2013 DOI: 10.1177/2158244013503166

Cite This Page:

SAGE Publications. "Is left-handedness higher among those suffering from psychosis?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 October 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131030093138.htm>.
SAGE Publications. (2013, October 30). Is left-handedness higher among those suffering from psychosis?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131030093138.htm
SAGE Publications. "Is left-handedness higher among those suffering from psychosis?." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131030093138.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

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