WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR THIS STUDY. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess clinical usefulness of copy number variant testing in individuals with schizophrenia, Copy number variants are rare genetic variants that can increase the risk for schizophrenia Participants: Study participants are individuals who have a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Procedures (methods): We will test individuals with schizophrenia for copy number variants (CNV). After testing, positive results will be relayed to the clinician/treatment team to assess clinical value i.
In collaboration with Dr Robert Allen- Professor of American History at UNC, and leveraging the Community Histories Workshop (CHW) works http://communityhistories.org, this project takes a deep dive into the history of psychiatric care in North Carolina. We are examining records of patients who were admitted to Dorothea Dix psychiatric hospital (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Dix_Hospital) in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Dorothea Dix was the first North Carolina psychiatric hospital founded in 1856 and was closed in 2012.
The goal of this project is to characterize genetic risk factors and gene mechanisms contributing to schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms. We aim to examine the neurobiological basis of schizophrenia and psychosis symptoms using predicted gene expression profiles in (1) the developmental period (premorbid and prodromal phase) as well as in (2) in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (disease phase).
This projects attempts to characterize symptom phenotypes and their interrelationships in psychosis and other severe mental illnesses.