Schizophrenia
Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the entorhinal cortex of a mouse model of schizophrenia (LPA1-deficient mice) and the kainate-induced field gamma rhythms in wild type (left) and KO (right) animals (from Journal of Neuroscience (2006) 26:2767-2776)  


A wide variety of projects are examining the neurobiology, treatment, and health sequelae of schizophrenia. Studies of the neuropathology and neurobiology of the disorder have focussed both on the neurochemical changes in brain tissue from schizophrenic patients and the mechanisms underlying changes in cortical oscillatory activity that occurs in animal models of schizophrenia. These are helping to identify the roles of GABA and glutamate in the altered pattern of EEG activity associated with cognitive changes in the disorder. Trials of cognitive behavioural therapy for schizophrenia have shown sustained benefit in terms of functional outcome and hospitalisation rates and an on-going NIH-funded study, being conducted with colleagues in the USA, is comparing CBT with other psycho-social interventions in a large cohort of schizophrenic patients.  The neurocognitive changes have also been compared to those in bipolar disorder and a collaborative imaging project in schizophrenia is currently underway with colleagues at the University of Durham.  In respect of psychological changes, we have conducted several studies on the relationship between schizotypic personality and creativity. Finally, important studies are being conducted to investigate the problems that many schizophrenic patients have with their physical health, including obesity and diabetes.  A large survey of these problems is being conducted in a catchment area population on North Tyneside in order to evaluate the role of medication in their aetiology and psycho-social interventions in their management.  Work has also been carried out on the cardiac effects of anti-psychotic medications and is continuing to inform proposals for their safe use.

Staff:

X_schizophrenia

Dr Paul Mackin
Clinical Senior Lecturer, Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska
Clinical Senior Lecturer/Consultant

Professor Daniel Nettle
Professor of Behavioural Science
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 8993

Professor Elaine Perry
Professor of Neurochemical Pathology

Dr Claudia Racca
Senior Lecturer

Professor Simon Thomas
Prof of Clin Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Professor Douglas Turkington
Honorary Professor of Psychosocial Psychiatry

Dr Stuart Watson
Academic Clinical Senior Lecturer

Professor Miles Whittington
Professor of Neuroscience

Selected Publications:

  • Turkington D, Kingdon D, Rathod S, Hammond K, Pelton J, Mehta R (2006) Outcomes of an effectiveness trial of cognitive-behavioural intervention by mental health nurses in schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry 189: 36-40 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16816304)
  • Roopun AK, Cunningham MO, Racca C, Alter K, Traub RD, Whittington MA (2008) Region-specific changes in gamma and beta2 rhythms in NMDA receptor dysfunction models of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin Jun 9. [Epub ahead of print] (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18544550)
  • Gallagher P, Watson S, Smith MS, Ferrier IN, Young AH (2005) Effects of adjunctive mifepristone (RU-486) administration on neurocognitive function and symptoms in schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry 57: 155-161 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15652874)
  • Martin-Ruiz CM, Haroutunian VH, Long P, Young AH, Davis KL, Perry EK, Court JA (2003) Dementia rating and nicotinic receptor expression in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry 54: 1222-1233 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14643090)
  • Cunningham MO, Hunt J, Middleton S, LeBeau FE, Gillies MJ, Davies CH, Maycox PR, Whittington MA, Racca C (2006) Region-specific reduction in entorhinal gamma oscillations and parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in animal models of psychiatric illness. Journal of Neuroscience 26:2767-2776 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16525056)
  • Gallagher P, Watson S, Smith MS, Young AH, Ferrier IN (2007) Plasma cortisol-dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) ratios in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia Research 90:258-265 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17222537)
  • Turkington D, Kingdon D, Turner T, Insight into Schizophrenia Research Group (2002) Effectiveness of a brief cognitive-behavioural therapy intervention in the treatment of schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry 180: 523-527 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12042231)
  • Nettle D, Clegg H (2006) Schizotypy, creativity and mating success in humans. Proceedings of the Royal Society B – Biological Sciences 273: 611-615 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16537133)
  • Mackin P, Watkinson HM, Young AH (2005) Prevalence of obesity, glucose homeostasis disorders and metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients taking typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs: a cross-sectional study. Diabetologia 48: 215-221 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15688206)
  • Reilly JG, Ayis SA, Ferrier IN, Jones SJ, Thomas SHL (2000) QTc-interval abnormalities and psychotropic drug therapy in psychiatric patients. Lancet 355: 1048-1052 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10744090)