Background: Primary or idiopathic cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is often associated with mental retardation or chronic schizophrenia.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of primary CVG and its histological aspects in a psychiatric adult population.
Methods: Eighty-three hospitalized psychiatric adult patients were examined for the primary form of CVG. Forty-nine (44 males and 5 females) out of them were schizophrenic, 16 (14 males and 2 females) were mentally retarded and the remaining 18 were affected by different psychiatric disorders.
Results: Three males, 2 mentally retarded and 1 schizophrenic, were found to be affected and the clinical diagnosis was confirmed histologically.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of primary CVG in males with mental retardation might be explained by ethnic factors or by the use of an adequate diagnostic methodology, improved by shaving the scalp hair in patients suspected to be affected. The term pachydermia verticis gyrata is suggested for the primary CVG, which is the most common scalp disorder in such a population.