Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia
Conditions
Keywords
Negative Symptoms, Brain Scans, Hallucinations, Delusions, Psychosis and Schizophrenia, Natural History
Brief summary
This large ongoing study at NIMH investigates the neurobiology of schizophrenia by identifying susceptibility genes, evaluating their impact on brain function to better understand how to treat and prevent this illness....
Detailed description
Objective: Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disorder which likely involves many genes each producing a slight increase in risk. Finding weak-acting genes in complex genetic disorders has been challenging and will likely require a number of approaches and large clinical samples. Several strategies have emerged recently that appear to markedly improve the power of genetic studies for detecting such genes. These include using association (rather than linkage) and using intermediate phenotypes in addition to DMS-IV diagnosis. Study Population: We propose to take advantage of these techniques by studying quantitative traits related to schizophrenia in patients, siblings, and controls. Design: We will employ an association design, rather than linkage. Traits will include quantifiable neurobiological variables that have been implicated previously as possible phenotypes related to schizophrenia. These include tests of attention and cognition. Outcome Measure: We will use several statistical methods to show that specific genetic polymorphisms affect these phenotypes, including case control and family based association studies.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
OTHER
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* INCLUSION/
Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria for Siblings (probands and unaffected siblings): * Probands must have a DSM IV-R diagnosis of schizophrenia,schizoaffective disorder, psychosis N.O.S. or schizophreniform disorder. * Probands and Siblings must be between the ages of 18 and 55 * Probands and Siblings must be free of major medical illnesses, but may have controlled hypertension, thyroid disease, or diabetes. * Probands and Siblings must have the cognitive ability to consent for themselves. Those who are judged to have the cognitive ability to consent for themselves at the time of participation, but do not have the legal capacity to consent for themselves may participate if the legal guardian /Legal authorized representative (LAR) provides consent by signing the informed consent form. * Fluency in English is required.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Polymorphisms affect phenotypes | At time of study participation | genotyping analysis |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PANSS, AIMS, GAF | At time of study participation | PANSS, AIMS, GAF |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKaren F Berman, M.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Outcome results
None listed