Metabolomic analysis applied in studies of severe mental disorders: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and addiction to crack

• Grant number: 15/00841-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2015
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Elisa Brietzke
• Grantee: Mariana Guedes Pedrini Uebel
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Theoretical Background: The metabolomics is the newest platform "ohmic" applied in chemical and biochemical studies of organisms that enables detection of metabolic changes caused by the numerous intra- and extra-cellular factors. Although psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and crack addiction have been associated with metabolic changes, metabolomics studies in these populations are scarce. Objectives: To compare the metabolic profile of individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and crack addiction with healthy controls. Methods: 150 patients with psychiatric disorders will be included (50 with schizophrenia, 50 with bipolar disorder and 50 with crack addiction) and compared with 50 healthy subjects (control group). The diagnosis is made through clinical interview using the Structured Clinical Interview Semi-DSM-IV (SCID). The analysis of symptom severity will be made using the following instruments: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Expected results: It is expected to find differences between the metabolome of individuals with major psychiatric disorders and healthy controls. It is expected to find differences between groups of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and crack dependence with respect to the metabolome. (AU)