Obstacles, Opportunities, and Ethical Considerations for Genomic Investigations of Individuals Continuously Hospitalized with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia

Patients with extreme treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) who are continuously hospitalized in state psychiatric facilities represent an understudied population in genomic research. This paper discusses the obstacles, opportunities, and ethical considerations encountered in recruiting and characterizing state hospital patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia for genomic investigations as part of the Pennsylvania State Hospital (PASH) study. We address the ethical complexities of involving individuals with severe mental illness in genetic research, the logistical challenges of working within the state hospital system, and the scientific opportunities that arise from studying this extreme phenotype.

Schizophrenia Bulletin Open