The characteristics of palate and upper dental arch can be an anatomical marker for men with schizophrenia? Case-control study: Palate can be a marker for schizophrenia?

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare individuals with and without schizophrenia through the characteristics of the palate, such as width, length, depth, palate shape, and upper dental arch shape. METHODS AND RESULTS: The sample was divided into one case group (n = 45) and two control groups (n = 90; 45 individuals each group). Groups were paired by variables: sex, age, and malocclusion type. All analyses were performed on upper dental arch plaster models. All individuals were male and the mean age was 28.56 (SD: 7.82) years. The frequency of the malocclusion type observed was 54.1% (Class I), 22.2% (Class II), and 23.7% (Class III). Statistically significant difference was observed between the case and control groups for the variables palate shape (P = .004) and upper dental arch shape (P = .003). The case group had a higher frequency of the deep or grooved palate shape (57.8%) and parabolic dental arch shape (48.9%). There was no statistically significant difference for the palate width, length, and depth (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: There was an evidence that the deep or grooved palate shape and parabolic dental arch shape are morphological characteristics of the palate in men with schizophrenia.