Abstract

The proposed research is a series of investigations of the developmental precursors of schizophrenia and their relation with clinical outcome characteristics -- symptoms, neuropsychological profiles and brain morphology. Using childhood home-movies, the neuromotor and socioemotional aspects of schizophrenic patients' development will be documented from infancy through adolescence, and contrasted with that of sibling and nonfamilial controls as well as patients with affective disorders. The relation between the various aspects of childhood development and the characteristics of patients as adults will be examined. The research will also explore the roles of prenatal and perinatal factors and family history of mental illness in predicting developmental course and clinical outcome.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02MH000876-02
Application #
3070241
Study Section
Research Scientist Development Review Committee (MHK)
Project Start
1990-09-01
Project End
1995-08-31
Budget Start
1991-09-01
Budget End
1992-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Emory University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
042250712
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322

  Publications

Walker, Elaine F; Bonsall, Robert; Walder, Deborah J (2002) Plasma hormones and catecholamine metabolites in monozygotic twins discordant for psychosis. Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol Behav Neurol 15:10-7
Kestler, L P; Walker, E; Vega, E M (2001) Dopamine receptors in the brains of schizophrenia patients: a meta-analysis of the findings. Behav Pharmacol 12:355-71
Weinstein, D D; Diforio, D; Schiffman, J et al. (1999) Minor physical anomalies, dermatoglyphic asymmetries, and cortisol levels in adolescents with schizotypal personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry 156:617-23
Walker, E; Lewis, N; Loewy, R et al. (1999) Motor dysfunction and risk for schizophrenia. Dev Psychopathol 11:509-23
Walker, E F; Diforio, D (1997) Schizophrenia: a neural diathesis-stress model. Psychol Rev 104:667-85
Walker, E F; Lewine, R R; Neumann, C (1996) Childhood behavioral characteristics and adult brain morphology in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 22:93-101
Neumann, C S; Grimes, K; Walker, E F et al. (1995) Developmental pathways to schizophrenia: behavioral subtypes. J Abnorm Psychol 104:558-66
Baum, K M; Walker, E F (1995) Childhood behavioral precursors of adult symptom dimensions in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 16:111-20
Walker, E F (1994) Developmentally moderated expressions of the neuropathology underlying schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 20:453-80
Grimes, K; Walker, E F (1994) Childhood emotional expressions, educational attainment, and age at onset of illness in schizophrenia. J Abnorm Psychol 103:784-90

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications