A Pilot Study: Association between Minor Physical Anomalies in Childhood and Future Mental Problems

OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate association between early recognizable minor physical abnormality (MPA) during childhood is associated with mental health problems in young adults. METHODS In 1984, 169 preschool children in central Taiwan underwent a detailed physical examination for subtle abnormalities (MPA). Fourteen years later, the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS) and Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ) were used to measure specific psychiatric symptoms. RESULTS There is an association between MPA during childhood and adult characterized with interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, depression and paranoid mental health symptoms. CONCLUSION The signs of childhood MPA can be easily identified and should be regarded as risk factors when predicting mental disorder. Mental health professionals should consider MPAs as important signs for possible development of emotional problems.