Genetic Study of Schizophrenia

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.

• 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.

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.
• 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.

Inclusion criteria

. Healthy Volunteers/Controls

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.
• 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.