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Pigmentation and Musculoskeletal Abnormalities in an Aged State Hospital Population
Author(s) -
Campbell Katherine M.,
Wade David,
Ross Luther W.,
Meyer George G.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00676.x
Subject(s) - medicine , deformity , melatonin , psychosis , population , triad (sociology) , pediatrics , physical therapy , surgery , psychiatry , psychology , environmental health , psychoanalysis
In a State hospital population, 686 patients (mean age, 65 years) were examined for patterned pigmentation on unexposed areas of the body. Of these patients, 285 (41.5 percent) met the criteria for pigmentation. There were no sex or age differences. Psychosis had been diagnosed in 96 percent of the pigmented group. All of the 239 patients examined orthopedically had vertebral malalignment greater than 15 degrees and often had other bony deformities. Nearly all of the pigmented group displayed dyskinetic activity. A possible mechanism for the production of the pigmentation‐psychosis‐skeletal deformity triad could be an alteration in the concentration of available melatonin. Continued research along these lines may lead to an effective means of pharmacologic treatment as well as better psychologic and physical care.