Psychiatric Disorders
Studies on First episode
Schizophrenia
Studies on Schizophrenia examine first episode patients that are antipsychotic-naïve as well as patients that are antipsychotic-free. After the baseline research assessments(brain imaging, genetics, immunological/ neurochemical parameters, cognitive function, eye tracking, clinical indicators of fetal programming/ neurodevelopment like digit ratio, dermatoglyphics, neurological soft signs & minor physical anomalies), the patients are systematically followed up at the Schizophrenia clinic with clinician-determined treatment as well as required psychosocial interventions with prospective follow-up re-assessments
Studies on First Degree Relatives of Schizophrenia patients
To understand & ascertain various endophenotypes of schizophrenia(brain imaging, genetics, immunological/ neurochemical parameters, cognitive function), unaffected first degree relatives are examined in these research studies. Moreover, specific clinical assessments are done to evaluate the prodrome of schizophrenia. In addition to these neurobiological research studies, psychosocial research studies evaluate the needs and provide required psychosocial interventions for the FDR of schizophrenia patients.
Studies on Schizophrenia examine first episode patients that are antipsychotic-naïve as well as patients that are antipsychotic-free. After the baseline research assessments(brain imaging, genetics, immunological/ neurochemical parameters, cognitive function, eye tracking, clinical indicators of fetal programming/ neurodevelopment like digit ratio, dermatoglyphics, neurological soft signs & minor physical anomalies), the patients are systematically followed up at the Schizophrenia clinic with clinician-determined treatment as well as required psychosocial interventions with prospective follow-up re-assessments
Studies on First Degree Relatives of Schizophrenia patients
To understand & ascertain various endophenotypes of schizophrenia(brain imaging, genetics, immunological/ neurochemical parameters, cognitive function), unaffected first degree relatives are examined in these research studies. Moreover, specific clinical assessments are done to evaluate the prodrome of schizophrenia. In addition to these neurobiological research studies, psychosocial research studies evaluate the needs and provide required psychosocial interventions for the FDR of schizophrenia patients.
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Studies on Obsessive- Compulsive
Disorder (OCD)
Studies on OCD examine psychotropic-naïve / free as well as treated patients (brain imaging, genetics, immunological parameters, eye tracking &cognitive function). In addition, unaffected siblings of patients with OCD are evaluated for potential endophenotypes (brain imaging, eye tracking&cognitive function). |
Other Disorders
On-going research studies evaluate others disorders like Bipolar Affective Disorder (eye tracking, cognitive assessments, clinical indicators of fetal programming), subjects at genetic risk for alcohol dependence (brain imaging studies) and late onset depression (brain imaging studies).
Research Studies
On-going research studies evaluate others disorders like Bipolar Affective Disorder (eye tracking, cognitive assessments, clinical indicators of fetal programming), subjects at genetic risk for alcohol dependence (brain imaging studies) and late onset depression (brain imaging studies).
Research Studies
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Brain Imaging Studies
Brain Imaging Studies @ TransPsych lab are done using the 3 Tesla MRI Scanner at NIMHANS. These studies include structural MRI analyses (voxel-based morphometry, cortical thickness measurement as well as shape analyses), fMRI studies, DTI studies as well as MRS studies (in pipeline) of Schizophrenia patients & their FDRs, OCD patients & their FDRs, subjects at genetic risk for alcohol dependence and late onset depression. |
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fMRI studies evaluate various cognitive tasks like learned irrelevance, paired-associate learning, cognitive mapping and language functions. DTI studies evaluate white matter abnormalities using TBSS as well as tractography techniques.
Hippocampus: Neuro-Immuno-Metabolic Influences
Given the criticality of hippocampus and its network brain regions in schizophrenia pathogenesis as well as hippocampus being the target for various systemic neurobiological influences – comprehensive evaluation of complex interactions between neuroimmunological / neutrophic factors (using cytokine, growth factors & neurochemical assays of related parameters as well as gene polymorphism / expression studies) and hippocampus are performed to facilitate a better understanding of schizophrenia pathogenesis.
Hippocampus: Neuro-Immuno-Metabolic Influences
Given the criticality of hippocampus and its network brain regions in schizophrenia pathogenesis as well as hippocampus being the target for various systemic neurobiological influences – comprehensive evaluation of complex interactions between neuroimmunological / neutrophic factors (using cytokine, growth factors & neurochemical assays of related parameters as well as gene polymorphism / expression studies) and hippocampus are performed to facilitate a better understanding of schizophrenia pathogenesis.
