Genetic Study of Schizophrenia

Sponsor

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (NIH)

Overall Status

Recruiting

CT.gov ID

NCT00001486

Collaborator

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) (NIH)

6,150

Enrollment

Location

Study Details

Study Description

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.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Schizoaffective Disorder Schizophrenia

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, and a variety of parameters using brain imaging and magnetoencephalography.

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.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Anticipated Enrollment :

6150 participants

Observational Model:

Case-Control

Time Perspective:

Other

Official Title:

A Neurobiological Investigation of Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Their Siblings

Actual Study Start Date :

Jul 15, 1995

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Normal Controls Male and female adult healthy volunteers
Parents Parents of Probands and siblings for the purposes of DNA collection
Probands Adult Subjects with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Siblings Adult siblings of Probands

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Genetic Polymorphisms affect phenotypes [At time of study participation]
genotyping analysis

Secondary Outcome Measures

PANSS, AIMS, GAF [At time of study participation]
PANSS, AIMS, GAF

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

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 who do not have capacity to provide consent and are under guardianship can participate in the study if the guardian signs the informed consent and the research subject provides their written assent. A DPA is not utilized in this study.
Fluency in English is required.

Exclusion Criteria for Siblings (probands and unaffected siblings):

Seizure disorder, mental retardation, organic brain damage or other neurological disease.
History of any (excepting nicotine-related) DSM5-defined moderate to severe substance use disorder (or DSM-IV-defined substance dependence).
Cumulative lifetime history of any (excepting nicotine-related) DSM5-defined mild substance use disorder (or any DSM-IV-defined substance abuse), either in excess of 5 years total or not in remission for at least 6 months.
Head trauma with loss of consciousness over 5 minutes from all but genetic sampling.
Documented metal in the body, e.g. from fixed dental bridges, orthodontia braces, IUDs containing metal or surgical screws.
Weight and height dimensions that result in size exceeding the capability of the MRI bore circumference is exclusionary.
Chemotherapy.
NIMH employees/staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy

Siblings who do not qualify for the 2-day or 1-day study, may participate in the limited phenotyping arm in which only a psychiatric interview and a blood draw for genetic analysis (SCID-DNA) will be performed, case control analysis or be included as part of a trio (one parent, one sibling, one patient) to study genetic transmission from parents to offsprings.. All parents are eligible for the study.

Healthy Controls Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible for this research study, healthy volunteers must be:

Between the ages of 18 and 55
Fluency in English is required

Healthy Controls Exclusion Criteria:

They will not be eligible if:

They have history of DSM IV-R psychiatric diagnosis or severe chronic medical illness at the time of the study.
They have a history of any (excepting nicotine-related) DSM5-defined moderate to severe substance use disorder (or DSM-IV-defined substance dependence).
They have a cumulative lifetime history of any (excepting nicotine-related) DSM5-defined mild substance use disorder (or any DSM-IV-defined substance abuse), either in excess of 5 years total or not in remission for at least 6 months.
They may not be eligible for the 2-day or 1-day study if they have a first-degree relative with history of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, they may be included in the SCID_DNA or case control analyses..
Documented presence of metal such as orthodontia braces, surgical screws or IUD of metal composition.
Healthy volunteers must be free of learning disabilities.
NIMH employees/staff and their immediate family members will be excluded from the study per NIMH policy