The cross-sectional GRAS sample: a comprehensive phenotypical data collection of schizophrenic patients.
BACKGROUND
Schizophrenia is the collective term for an exclusively clinically diagnosed, heterogeneous group of mental disorders with still obscure biological roots. Based on the assumption that valuable information about relevant genetic and environmental disease mechanisms can be obtained by association studies on patient cohorts of ≥ 1000 patients, if performed on detailed clinical datasets and quantifiable biological readouts, we generated a new schizophrenia data base, the GRAS (Göttingen Research Association for Schizophrenia) data collection. GRAS is the necessary ground to study genetic causes of the schizophrenic phenotype in a 'phenotype-based genetic association study' (PGAS). This approach is different from and complementary to the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on schizophrenia.


METHODS
For this purpose, 1085 patients were recruited between 2005 and 2010 by an invariable team of traveling investigators in a cross-sectional field study that comprised 23 German psychiatric hospitals. Additionally, chart records and discharge letters of all patients were collected.


RESULTS
The corresponding dataset extracted and presented in form of an overview here, comprises biographic information, disease history, medication including side effects, and results of comprehensive cross-sectional psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurological examinations. With >3000 data points per schizophrenic subject, this data base of living patients, who are also accessible for follow-up studies, provides a wide-ranging and standardized phenotype characterization of as yet unprecedented detail.


CONCLUSIONS
The GRAS data base will serve as prerequisite for PGAS, a novel approach to better understanding 'the schizophrenias' through exploring the contribution of genetic variation to the schizophrenic phenotypes.
Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
Katja
K
Ribbe
Heidi
H
Friedrichs
Martin
M
Begemann
Sabrina
S
Grube
Sergi
S
Papiol
Anne
A
Kästner
Martin F
MF
Gerchen
Verena
V
Ackermann
Asieh
A
Tarami
Annika
A
Treitz
Marlene
M
Flögel
Lothar
L
Adler
Josef B
JB
Aldenhoff
Marianne
M
Becker-Emner
Thomas
T
Becker
Adelheid
A
Czernik
Matthias
M
Dose
Here
H
Folkerts
Roland
R
Freese
Rolf
R
Günther
Sabine
S
Herpertz
Dirk
D
Hesse
Gunther
G
Kruse
Heinrich
H
Kunze
Michael
M
Franz
Frank
F
Löhrer
Wolfgang
W
Maier
Andreas
A
Mielke
Rüdiger
R
Müller-Isberner
Cornelia
C
Oestereich
Frank-Gerald
FG
Pajonk
Thomas
T
Pollmächer
Udo
U
Schneider
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Schwarz
Birgit
B
Kröner-Herwig
Ursula
U
Havemann-Reinecke
Jens
J
Frahm
Walter
W
Stühmer
Peter
P
Falkai
Nils
N
Brose
Klaus-Armin
KA
Nave
Hannelore
H
Ehrenreich
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D030541:Databases, Genetic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010641:Phenotype; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents