Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences | CCM 

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CLOZIN-Study (Phenomics and Genomics of Clozapine Pharmacotherapy)

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CLOZIN is a prospective as well as cross-sectional multi-center study including patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders receiving or starting the antipsychotic agent Clozapine. Clozapine is only prescribed, if two trials of antipsychotic agents have not led to satisfactory clinical improvement. Unraveling the (functional) genetic variation underlying this severe schizophrenia phenotype therefore has the potential to deepen our understanding of the biological underpinnings of schizophrenia beyond the boundaries of DSM/ICD-based consensus criteria as well as to improve pharmacological treatment options. The goal of this study is to assess the genetic architecture of this severe schizophrenia phenotype using Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and Next-Generation Sequencing. Furthermore we want to predict clozapine response as well as the occurrence of adverse drug reactions based on epigenetic, genetic and phenotypic data. CLOZIN is based and coordinated by the University Medical Center Utrecht; we also collaborate with the LMU München.

For further information, please see the CLOZIN study website.

Pilot-Study ZASIME (Obsessive compulsive symptoms among patients with schizophrenia under the treatment of antipsychotics)

ZASIME is a cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) among patients with schizophrenia under the treatment of clozapine versus other antipsychotics.

Patients with schizophrenia have a heightened risk for suffering from OCS. Epidemiological studies were able to demonstrate an occurrence of intrusive and agonizing obsessions and associated compulsions like cleaning, counting or checking behavior of 20 to 30 %. According to a recent meta-analysis, 12 % fulfill the diagnostic criteria of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Patients with comorbid OCS/OCD suffer from more severe positive and negative symptoms, a poorer prognosis and increased treatment costs. It still remains an open research question to what extent OCS are related to effects caused by antipsychotic treatment, especially clozapine, or are a sign of an advanced course of illness.

People

Principal Investigators Study Site Berlin
Dr. Stefan Gutwinski
Dr. Stefanie Schreiter

In cooperation with Prof. Dr. med Stephan Ripke, Ph.D., Laboratory for statistical genetics, Charité

This project is funded by Berlin Institute of Health (Clinician Scientist Program)

Doctoral Candidate
Carla Morgenroth

Publications


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