News Release

Penn researchers join forces in a nationwide study to explore the genetics or recurrent early-onset depression, bipolar disorder & schizophrenia

Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

To help identify genes that predispose individuals to major mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center are joining forces with other academic medical sites and the National Institute of Mental Health for the largest psychiatric genetics studies ever attempted. If successful, the information gathered could be used to develop better treatments and tailored medications for disorders that affect significant numbers of Americans. Each of these disorders tends to run in families.

"To develop better treatments for depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, we need to understand the genetic factors related to each disorder," said Douglas F. Levinson, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry, national coordinator for the depression study and principal investigator at Penn for the schizophrenia study. "These projects are part of a major national commitment. A large DNA and clinical database is being created so that qualified scientists can use increasingly powerful genetic methodologies to study these disorders. No information that could identify participants will be included in the database."

Eight national sites were chosen to study the genetics of bipolar disorder; six for recurrent, early-onset depression; and nine for schizophrenia. The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry is involved in all three studies.

"The more people who are willing to participate in studies like these, the sooner we can hope to get results," said Wade Berrettini, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior and principal investigator of the Penn bipolar study. "We're all working for the next generation of people with these mental illnesses to live far more stable, satisfying lives and experience far less distress and disruption than is possible today."

Recurrent, Early-onset Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects 17 million Americans or nearly one out of every ten. A combination of biochemical, genetic, personality and environmental factors, depression does run in families. To illustrate, if an identical twin has depression, there is a 40-70 percent chance that the other twin, who has an identical genetic make-up, will also experience depression at some time.

A family that is eligible to participate in the PENN study will include at least two siblings with recurrent major depression: one sibling who experiences the first episode of depression before age 31, and at least one additional sibling who experiences the first episode of depression before age 41. Other relatives with recurrent major depression before age 41 will also be invited to participate.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating and baffling of mental illnesses. About 500-800 of every 100,000 people will develop schizophrenia and suffer from severe symptoms such as psychosis, visual and audio hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Schizophrenia is one of the most catastrophic of illnesses given its early age of onset and lifelong disability in addition to the emotional and financial devastation it brings to its victims and their families. It is one of the leading causes of hospitalization worldwide. Federal figures reflect the cost of schizophrenia to be from $30-48 billion in direct medical costs, lost productivity and Social Security pensions.

Recent research supports the linking of schizophrenia to heredity. Studies have shown that children with one parent suffering form schizophrenia have about a 10 percent chance of developing the illness. If both parents have schizophrenia, the risk rises to as high as 50 percent. Moreover, if one identical twin suffers from it, there is a 50-60 percent chance that the other twin also will develop schizophrenia. To be eligible for the PENN schizophrenia study, a family must include at least two siblings with schizophrenia.

Bipolar Disorder

The hallmark of bipolar disorder is a pattern of mood shifts from the depths of depression to intense highs of mania. Commonly know as manic depression, bipolar disorder will affect nearly one in 100 people about two million Americans at some point in their lives. Although there are other important factors that can trigger bipolar illness, such as the irregular production or release of hormones and certain medications, genetic factors seem to play the predominant role. In fact, the identical twin of a person with manic depression has an 80 to 90 percent chance of developing the same disorder.

An eligible family for this study includes two siblings with bipolar disorder. Other relatives will be invited to participate.

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In all three studies, participants are asked to donate a small amount of blood and to respond to a diagnostic interview and personality questionnaire. It is not necessary to travel to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center to participate in any of these studies. Research staff are available to perform interviews and obtain blood samples in the privacy of the participant's home or by phone, and blood samples can be obtained in the home or with the help of a family physician. Participants will be compensated for their time and effort.

Treatment is not provided nor is it required for participation in this study. All information given will remain confidential. For more information about the genetics for recurrent early-onset depression study and schizophrenia, please call 215-746-5153. For further information regarding the genetic study of bipolar disorders, please call 215-662-2394. There is also a toll-free number for all three studies, 877-407-9529.



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