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Childhood Trauma in Schizophrenia: Exploration of Links Between Gene Expression, Cerebral Morphology and Symptomatology

Completed
Conditions
Schizophrenia
Interventions
Device: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Procedure: Blood sample
Other: Clinical psychiatric evaluation
Registration Number
NCT03355781
Lead Sponsor
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne
Brief 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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
78
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Healthy volunteersmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Healthy volunteers will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Related volunteers (first degree relative of patient)magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Related volunteers will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Schizophrenic patientsBlood samplePatients will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Related volunteers (first degree relative of patient)Blood sampleRelated volunteers will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Healthy volunteersBlood sampleHealthy volunteers will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Schizophrenic patientsmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)Patients will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Related volunteers (first degree relative of patient)Clinical psychiatric evaluationRelated volunteers will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Schizophrenic patientsClinical psychiatric evaluationPatients will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Healthy volunteersClinical psychiatric evaluationHealthy volunteers will have clinical psychiatric evaluation, brain imaging and blood sample
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quantitative measurement of RNAs5 days

development of an etiopathogenic model characteristic of schizophrenia

Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for regional gray matter density.5 days

development of an etiopathogenic model characteristic of schizophrenia

Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for total gray matter5 days

development of an etiopathogenic model characteristic of schizophrenia

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) for childhood trauma.5 days

development of an etiopathogenic model characteristic of schizophrenia

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire : to assess five types of childhood trauma :

1. Emotional neglect

2. physical abuse

3. emotional abuse

4. physical neglect

5. sexual abuse

Each item being rated in 5 answer choice from 1 to 5 (never, rarely, sometimes, often or very often)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Volumetry of the brain5 days
Correlation of BOLD activity in the cortico-limbic circuit with emotional variables5 days

emotional variables : ERS scale, ERQ scale, TAS-20 scale, SAS scale, AES-C scale

Correlation of BOLD activity in the cortico-limbic circuit with personality characteristics5 days

personality characteristics : EPQ-R scale, SPQ scale

Correlation of BOLD activity in the cortico-limbic circuit with history of trauma in childhood5 days

history of trauma in childhood : CTQ scale

Connectivity in the cortico-limbic circuit5 days
Correlation of BOLD activity in the cortico-limbic circuit in patients with patients with symptomatic variables5 days

symptomatic variables : PANSS scale

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CHU de Saint Etienne

🇫🇷

Saint-Étienne, France

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