Gangelt

Researchers are investigating the balance between excitatory and inhibitory brain activity as a possible molecular cause of schizophrenia. This study aims to compare brain imaging and genetic markers related to this imbalance in patients with schizophrenia, their healthy relatives, and unrelated healthy controls. The goal is to better understand the molecular basis of schizophrenia and related mental disorders to help develop more effective treatments. The study involves three groups of 200 participants each: patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, their healthy relatives, and healthy controls without psychiatric disorders or family history of such conditions. Participants will undergo blood tests for genetic and metabolic markers, psychiatric and neurological evaluations, and brain imaging using EEG and MRI techniques. Some participants may also provide additional blood samples for cell studies. All tests are planned to take about five hours and may be repeated after at least one day and up to three years later. Participants will be assessed using various psychiatric rating scales, cognitive and neurological tests, and brain activity measurements during auditory and visual tasks. Blood samples will analyze antibodies and molecules related to brain function. The study measures include auditory mismatch negativity and auditory steady state response over time, with follow-up assessments to evaluate test-retest reliability and clinical connections. This comprehensive approach will help clarify the biological markers linked to schizophrenia.