Project Summary

Marc-Andre Roy, M.D., MSc, FRCP (Young Investigator 2002) of Laval University, is investigation the well-supported premise that current definitions of schizophrenia (SZ) include several disorders with distinct causes, thus complicating the identification of causes, and will seek to identify discrete symptoms of SZ.  Dr. Roy hypothesizes that the first SZ subtype includes subjects with severe symptoms of psychosis and poorer social functioning prior to the onset of psychosis and who have relatives affected by SZ.  A second subtype of SZ would include subjects with a less severe form of the disorder, including better neuropsychological performance, except for having more severe depressive symptoms; subjects from the second subgroup would have relatives suffering from affective disorders, including depression.  If the subgroups differ, it will then be possible to focus specifically on either subgroup in neuroimaging and molecular genetic studies.  An improved definition of subgroups may increased the likelihood of uncovering causes of SZ, and eventually to better treatments and improved diagnostic accuracy.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

Search Again