title: CAG repeat length in the hKCa3 gene and symptom dimensions in schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long CAG repeats in the hKCa3 potassium channel gene have been associated with schizophrenia. We sought evidence for associations between this polymorphism and aspects of the schizophrenia phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations were investigated between CAG repeat length and gender, age of illness onset, and psychotic symptom dimensions in 203 unrelated individuals with DSM-IIIR schizophrenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No association was found between CAG repeat length and gender or age of onset. Long CAG repeats were associated with higher negative symptom dimension scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides preliminary evidence that genetic liability to negative symptoms in schizophrenia may be partly mediated through the hKCa3 gene.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cardno
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spurlock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Craddock
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGuffin
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D002118:Calcium