the Phenotypic and Genetic Profile of Patients With Early Onset Schizophrenia Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder. (GenAuDiss)

Exploration and Characterization of the Phenotypic and Genetic Profile of Patients With Early Onset Schizophrenia Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their First-degree Relatives (GenAuDiss).

Early onset schizophrenia "early dissociative disorder" is a rare disorder with a low incidence of approximately (1/5000 to 1/20000). Its link with autism spectrum disorders remains unknown although both are serious neurodevelopmental diseases. As part of the 2011-2013 Interregional hospital Clinical Research program, University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Pediatric Hospitals of CHU de Nice Lenval identified patients with a complex phenotype characterized by an early schizophrenia associated with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities in mild to moderate. This phenotype could be a new syndrome.

The goal of our project is to define the genetic causes of this phenotype. The technique of high throughput sequencing will be used to obtain the sequence of exomes of these patients and their families. This study will therefore be important to give an accurate diagnosis for patients and their families. Moreover, we believe that this project will identify new genes involved allowing a better understanding of the pathophysiology. Recent studies show the involvement of mutations in several genes (eg NRXN1 and UPF3B) in these different clinical phenotypes. However, the genetic basis of the childhood and early onset schizophrenia are much less well known than those of autism spectrum disorder

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Dissociative Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: genetic and phenotypic profile

Detailed Description

Introduction: Early-onset Schizophrenia (EOS) is a rare and severe condition displaying early dissociative disorder (i.e., age of onset < 18 years). A higher rate of neurodevelopmental abnormalities is observed in EOS compared to adult onset schizophrenia (AOS). Thus, patients affected by EOS typically present intellectual, learning, communication or neuromotor impairments, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Early signs of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are also found in 30% of patients with EOS.

Cytogenetics abnormalities, including copy number variations (CNVs), are frequent in neurodevelopmental disorders and have been linked to ASD physiopathology. Implicated genes encode proteins playing a role in brain development, synaptic morphology, plasticity and neurogenesis. In addition, an increasing number of genetic abnormalities are shared by EOS and ASD, suggesting that schizophrenia can be considered a neurodevelopmental disorder.

The main objective of the present study is to identify mutations in genes involved in neurodevelopmental pathways in our cohort of patients affected by both EOS and ASD.

Method and analysis: We describe here a multicenter study in a pediatric population named "Exploration and characterization of genetic and phenotypic profile of the 'early dissociative disorder' associated with autism spectrum disorder (GenAuDiss)". The study started in April 2014. The inclusion criteria are: age 7 to 22 years, diagnoses of EOS with co-morbid ASD and IQ > 50; as well as parents and siblings of the included patients.

We perform standardized psychiatric assessments (MINI, K-SADS-PL, PANSS, SANS, TCI 226, and AQ) and neurocognitive evaluations (IQ, TMT A/B, and verbal fluency). Then, we study variants of the coding part of the DNA (exome), using next generation sequencing (NGS) process on trio (mother, father, and child). Divers bio-informatics tools such as RVIS and PolyPhen-2 will be used to prioritize the potential candidate genes. The inclusion period of this study will end in November 2019.

Ethics and dissemination: The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee 'Sud Méditerrané V' (number 14.002) and by the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM 2013-A01699-36). All patients, their parents and siblings signed informed consent upon enrolment in the study.

Results of the present study should help to unravel the molecular pathology of EOS, paving the way for an early therapeutic intervention

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 111
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Nice, France, 06200
    • Fondation Lenval

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 7 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Of the child:

• ≥ 7 years, <18 (below 7 years the diagnosis of schizophrenia is not possible)
• Schizophrenia Diagnosis done using the diagnostic tool Kiddie sads
• Autism Diagnosis done using the diagnostic scale Autism Diagnostic interview (ADI-R)
• Intelligence quotient (IQ) ≥ 50 at Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) IV abridged version
• Clinical examination
• Affiliation to social security
• Obtaining the authorization of the holders of parental authority

Brothers and sisters:

• Minor or Major
• Similarly biological parents
• Clinical examination
• Affiliation to social security
• Obtaining the authorization of the holders of parental authority for minors or informed consent for major

Parents:

• Biological Parent
• Clinical examination
• Affiliation to social security
• Informed Consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Of the child:

• Children refusing to participate
• Children without verbal language

Brothers and sisters:

• Children refusing to participate
• Adults protected by law

Parents:

• Refusing to participate
• Adults are protected by law

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: genetic and phenotypic profile; blood sample, clinical and neurocognitive assessment	Other: genetic and phenotypic profile; Genetic and phenotypic profile, clinical and neurocognitive assessment for child with Schizophrenia and autism, their parents and brotherhood

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
characterization of the genetic abnormalities associated to Early Onset Schizophrenia phenotypes by performing standard karyotype	A standard karyotype at a resolution of 300 to 400 bands per haploid lot. It can diagnose numerical anomalies and certain structural abnormalities such as reciprocal translocations, inversions, deletions. A standard karyotype at a resolution of 300 to 400 bands per haploid lot is established initially. It can diagnose numerical anomalies and certain structural abnormalities such as reciprocal translocations, inversions, deletions Big. The pathological nature of these mutations will be stutied on the gene function and reaches its pattern of expression.	inclusion visit
characterization of the genetic abnormalities associated to Early Onset Schizophrenia phenotypes by performing search CGG	A search of the CGG expansion hypermethylated in the 5 'UTR of the FMR1 gene mutation that causes Fragile X syndrome.	inclusion visit
characterization of the genetic abnormalities associated to Early Onset Schizophrenia phenotypes by performing whole exome sequencing	Whole Exome Sequencing on trio (mother, father and child); This technology has demonstrated its power in recent years to determine the genetic causes of many rare diseases (Ropers, HH., 2012).	inclusion visit

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intensity of positive symptoms of schizophrenia	Evaluation of the intensity of positive and negative symptoms, general psychopathology and subtypes of schizophrenia by using positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS)	inclusion visit
Co-morbid psychiatric diagnosis	Evaluation of clinical profile: by using K-SADS-PL scale for DSM IV-TR / DSM-5 co-morbid psychiatric diagnosis of patients and minor siblings and by using MINI assessments for DSM IV-TR / DSM 5 psychiatric diagnosis of parents and major siblings.	inclusion visit
Evaluation of executive and attentional by the verbal fluency test	Evaluation of executive and attentional functions of patients using Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B and verbal fluency;	inclusion visit
Clinical evaluation of autistic symptoms	Clinical evaluation of autistic symptoms by using AQ (Baron-Cohen) in siblings and parents	inclusion visit
Neurocognitive profile	Evaluation of cognitive functioning by Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Scale IV (WISC IV).full version in patient and WISC IV abridged version in minor siblings; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS III) in a short form in adult siblings and parents	inclusion visit
Personality dimensional test	Personality dimensional test using computerized version of TCI 226 (Cloninger) in parents	inclusion visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Fondation Lenval
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Emmanuelle DOR, MD, Fondation Lenval

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Fernandez A, Dor E, Maurin T, Laure G, Menard ML, Drozd M, Poinso F, Bardoni B, Askenazy F, Thummler S. Exploration and characterisation of the phenotypic and genetic profiles of patients with early onset schizophrenia associated with autism spectrum disorder and their first-degree relatives: a French multicentre case series study protocol (GenAuDiss). BMJ Open. 2018 Jul 5;8(7):e023330. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023330.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 18, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 29, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2015
• First Posted (Estimated): October 1, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 29, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 28, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: schizophrenia; genetic; early dissociative disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Somatoform Disorders; Schizophrenia; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Dissociative Disorders; Conversion Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14-HPNCL08