Psychiatric disorders and left-handedness in children living in an urban environment

Abstract

The objective of this study was to conduct an analysis of left-handed children treated in an urban mental health clinic to investigate the frequency and severity of psychiatric disorders compared to right-handed peers. Data on handedness, diagnoses, hospitalizations and severity of mental disorders were collected on 692 consecutive children, 4–18 years old (M = 10.1, SD = 3.2), referred for psychiatric evaluation. Left-handed children were 18.2% of patients in the study, a rate significantly higher than left-hand dominance in the USA (p < .05). Compared to children with right-handedness, logistic regression analysis yielded 31% [odds ratio (OR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–1.50] higher odds of having more psychiatric diagnosis, 70% (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.10–2.62) increased odds of anxiety, 53% (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.03–2.27) increased odds of depression and 78% (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.21–2.62) increased odds of oppositional defiant disorder for children who were left-handed. Left-handed children had increased odds of being prescribed antipsychotic and anxiolytic medication uses, 53% and 86% increased odds, respectively, and 66% (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.08–2.55) increased odds of psychiatric hospitalizations. Left-handedness was a phenotypic risk factor for psychiatric disorders and increased severity of psychiatric disorders.

Keywords:

• Handedness
• Childhood
• Psychiatric disorders
• Oppositional disorder

We wish to thank William A. Logue, MA, Nancy Bjork, Louella Dorsey, RN, and Kandy McFarland, MBA, BSN for their time, research and technical assistance in the preparation of this article. Most importantly, we thank the patients and their families.

We wish to thank William A. Logue, MA, Nancy Bjork, Louella Dorsey, RN, and Kandy McFarland, MBA, BSN for their time, research and technical assistance in the preparation of this article. Most importantly, we thank the patients and their families.