Childhood Trauma in Schizophrenia: Exploration of Links Between Gene Expression, Cerebral Morphology and Symptomatology
Condition: Schizophrenia
MeSH terms: Schizophrenia
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Childhood trauma is known as a vulnerability factor in schizophrenia. In healthy volunteers,
      these adversities are linked to a decrease of grey matter of the brain, similar to those
      observed in schizophrenia.

      In a previous study based on Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM), including 21 schizophrenic
      patients and 30 healthy volunteers, the investigators shown a negative correlation between
      emotional neglect (important dimension in childhood trauma) and grey matter decrease. This
      strong correlation was significantly higher in schizophrenic patients than in healthy
      volunteers, suggesting a higher genetic predisposition to environmental factors in
      schizophrenic people.

      Currently, interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental stress factors is the
      major model for understanding in schizophrenia. In order to analyze both effects on human
      body, particularly on brain, several studies currently focus on the product of genetic
      expression, the ribonucleic acid (ARN).

      The purpose of this study is to provide an explanatory model of links between childhood
      trauma, candidate gene for schizophrenia expression, cerebral morphology and schizophrenic
      symptomatology. Using conceptual framework of stress vulnerability, structural equation
      modeling (SEM) will allow testing causal link between these different variables.
    


Intervention name(s): magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Blood sample; Clinical psychiatric evaluation
Intervention type(s): Device; Procedure; Other
Intervention description(s): brain imaging : structural anatomy, emotional congruence, anatomic connectivity, functional connectivity; 27,5 ml of blood sample : genetic analysis and biobank; Global Assessment Scale(GAS),Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview(MINI),Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale(PANSS),Family Interview for Genetic Studies(FIGS),Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia(CDSS),extrapyramidal side effects evaluation or Simpson-Angus scale evaluation(ESRS),Apathy Evaluation Scale(AES-C),State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI),Beck Depression Inventory(BDI-13),Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised(EPQ-R),Assessment of Schizotypal Personality(SPQ),Emotion Regulation Questionnaire(ERQ),Emotional Reactivity Scale(ERS),Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS-20),social anhedonia scale(SAS),Childhood Trauma Questionnaire(CTQ),Clinical-administered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale(CAPS),Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(WAIS-III),Trail Making Test(TMT),Pen and paper visuospatial working memory(DOT-test),impulsivity test(GoStop),Stroop test,National Adult Reading Test(NART),Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(WAIS-III),Facial Emotion Recognition task(FER)
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Schizophrenic patients, related volunteers (first degree relative of patient) and healthy
        volunteers
      
Keywords: childhood trauma; candidate gene expression; cerebral morphology; schizophrenic symptomatology; conceptual framework of stress vulnerability