Genetic Research in Schizophrenia Using DNA Markers and Clinical Phenotypes

It is known from genetic linkage and gene expression studies that the alpha 7 nicotinic
receptor gene is abnormally expressed in people with schizophrenia. The immediate objectives
of this proposal support the long-term objectives of a comprehensive description of the
pathophysiology of schizophrenia and new drug treatments by carefully defining the
physiological genotype-phenotype relationship for a single candidate gene. Subjects and
family members with a mental illness or who appear to have a mental illness will be asked to
undergo an interview, perform some mental tests and have a blood, urine, and saliva sample
taken one time.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Individuals thought to have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, be the parent
of such an individual, or be in the matched control group of unrelated individuals
not thought to have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

- Unable to give informed consent;

- Psychotic disorder judged to be secondary to substance abuse, psychotic disorder that
appears to be secondary to a known medical or neurological disorder, or severe mental
retardation