Do clinical features relate to theory of mind, empathy and 2D:4D in schizophrenia?

OBJECTIVE: Digit ratios may be accepted as an indicator of level of prenatal androgen exposure during the fetal developmental period. Female-typical digit ratios have been suggested to be associated with better mentalizing and empathic abilities in general population. Recently, a number of studies have investigated the ratio of hand's second and fourth digit fingers (2D:4D) in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that positive symptoms are related to female-biased 2D: 4D and relatively less impaired social cognition in schizophrenia, negative dimension is related to male-biased 2D: 4D ratio and more pronounced deficits in social cognition.