Abstract

The major objective of this pilot study is to examine the hypothesis that schizophrenic patients with a family history of affective disorders constitute a neurobiologically discrete subgroup of the schizophrenic syndrome, and may manifest neuroendocrine and sleep abnormalities similar to those seen in affective disorders. We plan to study a group of schizophrenic patients diagnosed by RDC criteria with family histories of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder in a first degree relative (Group 1: n=15) and compare them with a group of similarly diagnosed schizophrenic patients with a history of schizophrenic illness in a first degree relative (Group 2: n-15), with respect to the following parameters: a) Two neuroendocrine test known to be frequently abnormal in affective disorders, namely the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) and the Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) Challenge Test and, b) Sleep Polysomnographic Records. The specific hypothesis tested in this study is that Group 1 will show dexamethasone nonsuppression, blunted TSH responses to TRH, and abnormally short Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep latency more frequently than Group 2. The findings of this study are likely 1) to help delineate aetiologically meaningful subgroups within the heterogeneous schizophrenic syndrome and, 2) to help identify specific subgroups that may differ in treatment responsiveness and prognosis.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03MH043687-01
Application #
3428746
Study Section
Mental Health Small Grant Review Committee (MSM)
Project Start
1987-09-01
Project End
1988-08-31
Budget Start
1987-09-01
Budget End
1988-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213

  Publications

Tupler, Larry A; De Bellis, Michael D (2006) Segmented hippocampal volume in children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder. Biol Psychiatry 59:523-9
Prasad, Konasale M R; Patel, Anita R; Muddasani, Srirangam et al. (2004) The entorhinal cortex in first-episode psychotic disorders: a structural magnetic resonance imaging study. Am J Psychiatry 161:1612-9
De Bellis, Michael D; Keshavan, Matcheri S (2003) Sex differences in brain maturation in maltreatment-related pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 27:103-17
De Bellis, Michael D; Keshavan, Matcheri S; Shifflett, Heather et al. (2002) Brain structures in pediatric maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a sociodemographically matched study. Biol Psychiatry 52:1066-78
De Bellis, Michael D; Keshavan, Matcheri S; Frustaci, Karin et al. (2002) Superior temporal gyrus volumes in maltreated children and adolescents with PTSD. Biol Psychiatry 51:544-52
De Bellis, Michael D; Keshavan, Matcheri S; Shifflett, Heather et al. (2002) Superior temporal gyrus volumes in pediatric generalized anxiety disorder. Biol Psychiatry 51:553-62
De Bellis, M D; Keshavan, M S; Beers, S R et al. (2001) Sex differences in brain maturation during childhood and adolescence. Cereb Cortex 11:552-7
De Bellis, M D; Keshavan, M S; Spencer, S et al. (2000) N-Acetylaspartate concentration in the anterior cingulate of maltreated children and adolescents with PTSD. Am J Psychiatry 157:1175-7
De Bellis, M D; Clark, D B; Beers, S R et al. (2000) Hippocampal volume in adolescent-onset alcohol use disorders. Am J Psychiatry 157:737-44
De Bellis, M D; Keshavan, M S; Clark, D B et al. (1999) A.E. Bennett Research Award. Developmental traumatology. Part II: Brain development. Biol Psychiatry 45:1271-84

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