Project Summary

Ranita Basu, M.D., (Young Investigator 2006) of Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and the University of Pittsburgh, aims to understand why people with schizophrenia have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In the proposed project, Dr. Basu will recruit consenting outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from an urban mental health center. Symptoms will be measured using psychiatric scales, and psychosocial stressors will be assessed with other scales. Serum lipids, salivary cortisol, fasting serum glucose, and insulin will be measured. Abdominal obesity and visceral fat will be precisely quantified using CT scanning. To Dr. Basu’s knowledge, this will be the first study to use precise measurements to simultaneously assess several metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in individuals suffering from schizophrenia. Results may help determine what might be the best interventions to reduce the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in schizophrenia and to prevent premature mortality.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDER\Schizophrenia

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