Neurophysiological Studies in Schizophrenia and Psychiatric Disorders (BSNIP)

Neurophysiological and Genetic Studies in Schizophrenia and Other Psychiatric Disorders

The overall goal of this project is to identify intermediate phenotypes for psychosis across the schizophrenia and bipolar disorders boundary with implications for future genetic studies. Recent studies provide considerable evidence that schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder may share overlapping etiologic determinants. Identifying disease-related genetic effects is a major focus in schizophrenia and bipolar research, with enormous implications for diagnosis and treatment for these two disorders. Efforts have been multifaceted, with the ultimate goal of describing causal paths from specific genetic variants, to changes in neuronal functioning, to altered brain anatomy, to behavioral and functional impairments. Parallel efforts have identified and refined several alternative endophenotypes that are stable, heritable, have (partly) known biological substrates, and are associated with psychosis liability. Although many such endophenotypes have been individually studied in schizophrenia, and to a lesser extent in bipolar disorder, no study has comprehensively assessed a broad panel of these markers in the two disorders with parallel recruitment, and the extent to which they mark independent aspects of psychosis risk, or their overlap in the two disorders. In this research project, we will examine a broad panel of putative endophenotypes in affected individuals and their first degree, biological relatives in order to: 1) characterize the degree of familial phenotypic overlap between schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorders; 2) identify patterns of endophenotypes unique to the two disorders; and, 3) contrast the heritability of endophenotypes across the disorders. We will obtain measures of neurophysiology (e.g., eye tracking, P50 gating, PPI, and P300), neurocognition (e.g., attention/vigilance, episodic and working memory), and brain structure (e.g., volumes of gray and white matter in specified brain regions). Blood samples will also be collected and stored for formal DNA linkage analyses using the independent phenotypes identified above. All volunteers will also be given the option to donate dermal biopsies for future research studies.

Establishing similarities and differences in the endophenotypic signatures within schizophrenia and bipolar families will provide important insights for future genetic studies, and clarify concepts about common and distinct aspects of pathophysiology, potentially meaningful heterogeneity with disorders, and the clinical boundaries of the two most common psychotic disorders in adult psychiatry. This line of investigation will potentially impact our conceptualization of psychotic disorders, help us make critical strides to identify the pathophysiology of psychosis, and guide development of new specific treatments targeting particular deficits.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder; Bipolar Disorder

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 1189

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390
      • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 15 years to 70 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar I disorder.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder with psychotic features
• Ages 15-70 years old
• Must have a first degree, biological relative in the same age range who is willing and available to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of an organic brain disease
• Meets criteria for alcohol or substance abuse with the last month; alcohol or substance dependence within the last 3 months; or, has an extensive history of drug dependence
• History of seizures, serious head injury, concussions, or other evidence of brain disease
• Medical illnesses that are not currently well-controlled

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Family-Based
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• UT Southwestern's "Find a Clinical Trial" Search (FaCT)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 27, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): June 29, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 16, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 15, 2019
• Last Verified: January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Genetics; Schizophrenia; Psychosis; Phenotype; Bipolar disorder; Schizoaffective disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Pathologic Processes; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Bipolar and Related Disorders; Schizophrenia; Disease; Psychotic Disorders; Problem Behavior; Mental Disorders; Bipolar Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU 112010-097; 1R01MH077851-01A2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)