| Summary: |
Objectives: To define a specific electrophysiological endophenotype for schizophrenia, in order to achieve a narrow definition of the disorder that supports further genetic research. Thus, the purposes for the study are twofold:
(1) to assess the value of P200 impairments, as a marker of vulnerability in patients with schizophrenia and their adult biological healthy siblings, compared to a group of matched controls;
(2) to use this marker (endophenotype) as a narrow definition of disorder in order to start a long-term research, with a Portuguese sample, based on the Blackwood and Muir's findings about ERPs and DISC1 candidate gene for schizophrenia.
Methodology: 20 schizophrenic patients and 20 healthy first degree relatives, matched to 30 healthy controls, will be submitted to ERP and blood sampled to further genetic studies. Concerning ERP recording, a conventional auditory oddball paradigm will be used in order to obtain P200 waves in patients, relatives and controls. Blood will be collected after ERP recording and conserved under standard conditons.
Results: We expect P200 abnormalities in schizophrenics, and some of the relatives, would contribute for a better definition of a new schizophrenia endophenotype. This will contribute for a more efficacious and early detection of at risk subjects.
It shall be emphasized that endophenotypes can clarify classification and diagnosis, and linking genes with brain regions or neuralnets is an important step towards the identification of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
|