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Hand Preference Patterns in Psychiatric Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

W. A. Lishman  and
E. R. L. McMeekan
W. A. Lishman
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
E. R. L. McMeekan
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
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Summary

A brief survey, using a standardized questionnaire, has been made of hand preference patterns in a series of patients admitted to hospital with functional psychiatric disorders. A small but significant shift towards left hand preference has been observed, more marked in the young patients and virtually confined to the males. Psychotic patients show such a shift more clearly than neurotic or personality disordered patients. Simple genetic factors do not appear to be responsible for these sinistral tendencies. The findings are discussed in relation to possible acquired abnormalities of functional brain organization.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 129 , Issue 2 , August 1976 , pp. 158 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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