CSP #572 - Genetics of Functional Disability in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Illness

We propose to identify the genetic basis of Veterans developing either of two major psychiatric (or "mental health") diseases: schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The study will also examine the genetic basis of disability in everyday functions (such as employment, independent living, and self care) among the same patients. By "genetic basis," we mean how a person's genes might be a risk for developing these illnesses or being affected by them. We will compare information gathered from Veterans with these illnesses to "psychiatrically healthy" Veterans. Participants will be recruited from multiple Veterans Health Administration medical centers; the analysis of blood samples will be done in designated and approved laboratories.

Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are chronic psychiatric diseases associated with considerable lifelong disability; in particular, these illnesses are common in Veterans served by the Veterans Health Administration. Both of these conditions are also known to be caused in part by genes or so-called heredity; studies of the entire set of human genes (referred to as the genome) can be a tool to identify specific reasons why certain people develop certain conditions. In addition, patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder often have difficulty functioning in the real-world-including problems in attention and memory, or the ability to perform tasks of everyday living or have normal emotional experiences-and these "functional impairments" may also be inherited genetically. The current study is designed to help identify who is at higher risk for these diseases and related problems, so that better methods to diagnose and treat the conditions can be developed in the future.

Among other aspects of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, suicide stands out as a very important issue to Veterans, their families, and the Veterans Health Administration. Suicide attempts and completed suicides are more common in Veterans with schizophrenia and bipolar illness (compared to Veterans without these illnesses), and this tendency may be inherited as well. Part of this study will involve determining whether specific genes might be associated with suicidal behavior. Similarly, the study will look at the genetic basis of side effects related to taking medications for these diseases.

For this research, participants will be recruited from VA sites that have extensive experience in conducting projects involving psychiatric disorders. We will collect information about the genes of these Veterans from a blood sample, and we will ask questions about health and related factors. We will also establish a repository which allows for future genomic studies related to SZ, BP, and related disorders or sequelae. The total study duration is indefinite in the setting of creating a SZ and BP repository, although the required time period for addressing the primary aims is 3.5 years. Data for a comparison ("reference") group of Veterans with medical, but not psychiatric, illnesses, will be obtained from a research initiative entitled the "VA Million Veteran Program" (VA-MVP).

Ultimately, this study attempts to advance the state-of-the-art regarding our understanding and treatment for two common mental health disorders affecting Veterans and will also serve as part of a major initiative to support "personalized" healthcare. It represents a major effort to link specific genes to illnesses, and eventually to treatments intended to relieve suffering.