- Email: [email protected]
WK2 THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF EARLY PSYCHOSIS
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
Schizophrenia Research 86 (2006) 1−3 www.elsevier.com/locate/schres
Abstracts
Keynotes Wednesday 4 October, 2006 Keynote
the critical periods of the prodrome, around the transition to the psychotic phase, and during the early phases of the illness is critical for continued research into preventive intervention strategies.
WK1 THE NEW EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSYCHOSIS
Plenary
P. Jones *. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, UK Presenting author contact: [email protected]
WK3 GENES FOR PSYCHOSIS: WHAT DO WE KNOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Nowhere do the textbooks need updating more than in the field of psychosis epidemiology. Findings from large-scale population-based studies such as ÆSOP reveal enormous contrasts in the incidence of psychosis according to standard epidemiological parameters of age, sex, social situation, place and ethnicity. These results come just as meta-analysis of previous work confirm that the old view of uniform incidence belies the true situation. Furthermore longitudinal views of the evolution of mental illnesses and their causes are becoming more sophisticated as relevant data and new statistical techniques become available. These advances have allowed disciplines from epidemiology, genetics, sociology and neuroscience to collide with interesting results. Data from a number of studies will be reviewed and implications for future research and clinical practice will be discussed.
P.J. Harrison *. Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
Plenary WK2 THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF EARLY PSYCHOSIS M.S. Keshavan *. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States Presenting author contact: [email protected] Studies of the early course of psychoses such as schizophrenia allow investigation of altered neurobiology without the confounds of illness chronicity and treatment. In this paper, I will review the current literature on the biology of the early course of psychoses. Brain structural alterations are present early in the illness and may predate symptom onset. Recent Imaging genomics studies have suggested links between functional genetic polymorphisms and morphometric changes in distinct brain regions. Functional and neurochemical brain abnormalities may also be seen in the premorbid and the early phases of the illness. Some of these changes may progress during the early phases of the illness, while some others may be trait-like. Altered structural and functional brain changes early in the illness may reflect deficits in the “neuroplasticity reserve”, may predict outcome, and may be impacted by pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments. Elucidation of neurobiological changes, especially during
Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are highly heritable. However, the number, chromosomal location, and identity of the underlying genes, and the mechanisms by which they operate, have all remained elusive. Over the past five years, surprising progress has been made towards answering these questions, especially for schizophrenia. Meta-analyses of genome scans have identified several chromosomal loci where schizophrenia genes likely reside, whilst individual genes at these and other loci have been associated with the disease. There is now strong evidence for several genes (neuregulin, dysbindin, DISC-1, and G72/G30) and modest evidence for several more. A common mediating mechanism may be that the risk variants affect some facet of gene expression. Functionally, the genes appear to converge upon synaptic signalling, particularly NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated neurotransmission, and it is via such pathways that the genes may influence the pathophysiology of the disorder. This talk will introduce the key concepts and findings regarding the discovery of schizophrenia genes. It will also consider the many questions that remain to be answered, including how the genes interact with environmental factors, and how and when the advancing genetic knowledge may begin to change clinical practice.
Thursday 5th October, 2006 Keynote TK1 AT THE CROSSROADS: WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF EARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHOSIS? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? P. McGorry *. ORYGEN (EPPIC), Melbourne, Australia Presenting author contact: [email protected] The past decade has witnessed an exponential rise in interest and research evidence relevant to early diagnosis and preventive intervention in psychotic disorders. This has raised all the usual issues
Schizophrenia Research 86 (2006) 1−3 www.elsevier.com/locate/schres
Abstracts
Keynotes Wednesday 4 October, 2006 Keynote
the critical periods of the prodrome, around the transition to the psychotic phase, and during the early phases of the illness is critical for continued research into preventive intervention strategies.
WK1 THE NEW EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSYCHOSIS
Plenary
P. Jones *. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, UK Presenting author contact: [email protected]
WK3 GENES FOR PSYCHOSIS: WHAT DO WE KNOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Nowhere do the textbooks need updating more than in the field of psychosis epidemiology. Findings from large-scale population-based studies such as ÆSOP reveal enormous contrasts in the incidence of psychosis according to standard epidemiological parameters of age, sex, social situation, place and ethnicity. These results come just as meta-analysis of previous work confirm that the old view of uniform incidence belies the true situation. Furthermore longitudinal views of the evolution of mental illnesses and their causes are becoming more sophisticated as relevant data and new statistical techniques become available. These advances have allowed disciplines from epidemiology, genetics, sociology and neuroscience to collide with interesting results. Data from a number of studies will be reviewed and implications for future research and clinical practice will be discussed.
P.J. Harrison *. Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
Plenary WK2 THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF EARLY PSYCHOSIS M.S. Keshavan *. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States Presenting author contact: [email protected] Studies of the early course of psychoses such as schizophrenia allow investigation of altered neurobiology without the confounds of illness chronicity and treatment. In this paper, I will review the current literature on the biology of the early course of psychoses. Brain structural alterations are present early in the illness and may predate symptom onset. Recent Imaging genomics studies have suggested links between functional genetic polymorphisms and morphometric changes in distinct brain regions. Functional and neurochemical brain abnormalities may also be seen in the premorbid and the early phases of the illness. Some of these changes may progress during the early phases of the illness, while some others may be trait-like. Altered structural and functional brain changes early in the illness may reflect deficits in the “neuroplasticity reserve”, may predict outcome, and may be impacted by pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments. Elucidation of neurobiological changes, especially during
Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are highly heritable. However, the number, chromosomal location, and identity of the underlying genes, and the mechanisms by which they operate, have all remained elusive. Over the past five years, surprising progress has been made towards answering these questions, especially for schizophrenia. Meta-analyses of genome scans have identified several chromosomal loci where schizophrenia genes likely reside, whilst individual genes at these and other loci have been associated with the disease. There is now strong evidence for several genes (neuregulin, dysbindin, DISC-1, and G72/G30) and modest evidence for several more. A common mediating mechanism may be that the risk variants affect some facet of gene expression. Functionally, the genes appear to converge upon synaptic signalling, particularly NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated neurotransmission, and it is via such pathways that the genes may influence the pathophysiology of the disorder. This talk will introduce the key concepts and findings regarding the discovery of schizophrenia genes. It will also consider the many questions that remain to be answered, including how the genes interact with environmental factors, and how and when the advancing genetic knowledge may begin to change clinical practice.
Thursday 5th October, 2006 Keynote TK1 AT THE CROSSROADS: WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF EARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHOSIS? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? P. McGorry *. ORYGEN (EPPIC), Melbourne, Australia Presenting author contact: [email protected] The past decade has witnessed an exponential rise in interest and research evidence relevant to early diagnosis and preventive intervention in psychotic disorders. This has raised all the usual issues