Studying the Effects of Some Drugs and Some Diseases on Handwriting

Abstract

In this work, multiple handwriting specimens were collected from Parkinsonian, Schizophrenic, epileptic, and Alzheimer's patients, alter onset of the disease, then a comparative handwriting analysis was carried

out between their handwriting before, and after onset of the disease. The original handwriting were obtained from tliqjr own previous papers.or Of documents such as marriage certificate, job signatures .... and so on. Also the Parkinsonian patients were examined for the effects of dopamimeticy' therapy on the kinematics of handwriting movements, by collecting several

handwriting specimens after drug intake and according to the known pharmacological peak plasma level of levodopa therapy. The liandwriting analysis was done as regard pen pressure, mean speed, word size and shape alignment, inter-word spacings, inter-lette·r connections, slanting, pen drags, direction of handwriting, writing errors] and initial and terminal strokes.

It was found that the changes in the features ofdandwriting, were more prevalent in those related to Parkinsonian and Alzheimer's patients; where the disturbance in alignment, slanting, word shape, inter-letter connections, and the. regularity of inter-word spacings were i11ore eyident( together with significant tremors and writing errors such as omissions, retouchings, and overwritings. On the other hand, handwriting changes as a result of Schizophrenia, and epilepsy were less prevalent. Schizophren· ia mainly' produced' macrographia, disturbed alignment, and increased speed of h~mdwriting, while the other changes could be attributed to their lower writin levels, and to the antipsychotic drugs as they were mediated patients