The objective of this five year academic award is to develop Dr. Lindamer's skills as a researcher, educator, and clinician in geriatric psychiatry with a specialization in women's health issues, particularly the role of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in psychiatric disorders. The award will build on Dr. Lindamer's combined training in neurosciences, clinical psychology, and neuropsychology and on her background in clinical research and methodology in geriatric psychiatry. She has recently completed a two-year post-doctoral research fellowship in geriatric psychiatry. She has authored or co-authored a total of 12 articles that are published or in press and another one that has been recently submitted. In addition, she has made many presentations and has 15 abstracts.
The aim of the award is to further her skills in the following areas: 1) knowledge of steroid hormones and their relationship to psychopathology, 2) design and implementation of clinical trials, 3) assessment of psychopathology, cognition and quality of life in older schizophrenic patients, and 4) women's health issues in older chronically mentally ill patients. These skills will be acquired by participation in a structured training plan, including relevant course work consultation with experts in psychopharmacology, geriatric psychiatry, women's health issues, and by designing and executing a project investigating the effect of estrogen augmentation of neuroleptic medication in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia.
Specific aims of the proposed double-blind, parallel group study ar to examine the effects of ERT in conjunction with neuroleptic medication on psychopathology, cognition, an quality of life in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia. The relationship between estradiol levels an psychopathology, cognition, and quality of life will also be investigated. This training program will assist Dr. Lindamer in making the transition to an independent investigator at University of California, San Diego, as well as a teacher and clinician in geriatric psychiatry.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08MH001580-02
Application #
2674510
Study Section
Mental Disorders of Aging Review Committee (MDA)
Project Start
1997-09-30
Project End
2002-04-30
Budget Start
1998-05-15
Budget End
1999-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Folsom, David P; Lebowitz, Barry D; Lindamer, Laurie A et al. (2006) Schizophrenia in late life: emerging issues. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 8:45-52
Lindamer, Laurie A; Buse, Dawn C; Auslander, Lisa et al. (2003) A comparison of gynecological variables and service use among older women with and without schizophrenia. Psychiatr Serv 54:902-4
Lindamer, L A; Buse, D C; Lohr, J B et al. (2001) Hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with schizophrenia: positive effect on negative symptoms? Biol Psychiatry 49:47-51
Lindamer, L A; Lohr, J B; Caligiuri, M P et al. (2001) Relationship of gender and age at onset of schizophrenia to severity of dyskinesia. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 13:399-402