Dopamine Function and Reward Processing In Schizophrenia

This is an observational trial for Schizophrenia focused on measuring Classical Conditioning, fMRI, Schizophrenia, TD Model, Incentive Salience Read More

• INCLUSION CRITERIA::

Individuals will be eligible for participation in one of the proposed experimental groups on the condition that they are:

1. Aged between 18 55 years.
2. In good health, based on history and physical examination
3. Right-handed (i.e. as assessed using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory)

In addition, patient participants:

1. Must meet DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder at the time of assessment, and
2. Must have had 4 weeks of stable pharmacological treatment (same medications at same doses).

Behavioral Subject Only:

1. Aged between 18 55 years.
2. In good health, based on history and physical examination
3. Right-handed (i.e. as assessed using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory)

In addition, patient participants:

1. Must meet DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder at the time of assessment, and
2. Must have had 4 weeks of stable pharmacological treatment (same medications at same doses).

Individuals will be eligible for participation in one of the proposed experimental groups on the condition that they are:

EXCLUSION CRIERIA:

Participants in MRI scanning experiements

All participants in the MRI scanning experiements will undergo standard screening as in the clinical policies of the IRP:

All Participants in the MRI scanning experiments

Participants in both experimental groups will be excluded from participation if they:

1. Are unable to undergo MRI scanning due to pregnancy (via pregnancy test), implanted or attached metallic devices (e.g. cardiac pacemaker or neurostimulator; some artificial joints metal pins; surgical clips; braces; or other implanted metal parts), claustrophobia, or syncope, by self-report;
2. Show current evidence of severe hypertension, as indicated by a blood pressure measurement at or above 190 systolic or 110 diastolic on two separate occasions. Potential participants with evidence of chronic and/or poorly controlled hypertension may be excluded by the MRP even with measurements below those values;
3. Show current evidence of diabetes, as indicated by a blood sugar measurement of over 300 mg/dl. Potential participants with evidence of chronic and/or poorly controlled diabetes may be excluded by the MRP even with measurements below those values;
4. Suffer from HIV infection, coagulopathies, or other major medical illness which, in the judgment of the MRP, would seriously compromise the quality of the data gathered;
5. Have any neurological illnesses that would interfere with the quality of the neuroimaging data gathered, i.e. to include (but not limited to): seizure disorders; migraine; multiple sclerosis; movement disorders; or history of head trauma, CVA, or CNS tumor;
6. Are notably cognitively impaired by history or observation;
7. Have a DSM-IV diagnosis of past alcohol or substance dependence (with the exception of nicotine);
8. Test positively for any of 7 common banned substances at the time of screening;
9. Are lactating, as hormonal fluctuations associated with lactation may interact with dopamine system function.

Normal, Healthy Control Participants

In addition to those exclusion criteria already outlined above, control participants will also be excluded if they:

1. Have any current, or previous, diagnosis of any major psychiatric disorder, i.e. to include (but not limited to) mood, anxiety, and psychiatric disorders, or any substance-induced psychiatric disorders.
2. Have any first-degree relatives with history of psychosis likely related to schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, or schizoaffective disorder.
3. Have previously been diagnosed with a DSM-IV Axis II spectrum disorder.

Patient Participants

Patient patients will be excluded if they meet any of the criteria already outlined, and also if they:

1. Have experienced any changes in pharmacological treatment and dose in the 4 weeks preceding study enrollment.
2. We will exclude patients whose paranoid ideation might prevent them from feeling comfortable in the task- or scanning-environment.