Comparative study of dermatoglyphic patterns in patients with various psychiatric disorders using dermoscope versus standard fingerprinting technique

Dermatoglyphics, the scientific study of fingerprint and palmar ridge patterns, reflects genetic and neurodevelopmental processes established during intrauterine life and remaining unchanged thereafter. Since epidermal ridge formation parallels central nervous system development, dermatoglyphic variations may subtly mirror neurodevelopmental abnormalities, as observed in psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and autism. Given the absence of objective diagnostic tools in psychiatry, dermatoglyphics offers promise as a potential biomarker that is non-invasive, reliable, and cost-effective. Traditional ink-based methods, however, are cumbersome and prone to inconsistency. The introduction of dermoscopy—a precise, rapid, and reproducible imaging technique—overcomes these limitations, enabling detailed visualization of ridge patterns. This innovation bridges dermatology and psychiatry, providing a foundation for early and accessible screening of psychiatric disorders, particularly in resource-limited settings. Despite rising interest in psychodermatology, no existing studies have explored dermatoglyphics in psychiatric patients using dermoscopy, highlighting a crucial gap this research aims to address.