LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University ...

LVR-KLINIKUM DÜsseLDORF – hOsPITaL OF The heINRIch-heINe UNIVeRsITY DÜsseLDORF
smokers are in a state of nicotine withdrawal. For nonsmokers,
the measurements on day 2 are essentially to
check the reliability of the methods. To date, 90 of the 200
planned number of subjects have been recruited into the
study. Data relating to the main questions have not yet been
assessed, although aspects of the methods have already
been published.
Genetics of nicotine dependence: Clinical and
neurobiological phenotypes – A multi-centre study
G. Winterer, A. Mobascher, J. Brinkmeyer in cooperation
with a further 7 institutions from the DFG priority
programme 1226 “Nicotine”
Project period: 2007–2009
Financing: DFG funding Wi 1316/9-1
In this multi-centre study (with a total of 6 study centres),
a randomly selected population-based sample of mentally
healthy smokers and non-smokers is being investigated. The
main aim of the study is to describe the “smoker” phenotype
at the behavioural level, biological level (biomarkers, stress
hormones, etc.) and endophenotype level (neuropsychology
and electrophysiology) and, in a second phase, to describe
(endo)phenotype/genotype relations in order to gain
a better understanding of the genetics of smoking or
nicotine dependence, respectively. To this end, subjects
Tracing electrical brain activity (electroencephalography) whilst
simultaneously monitoring brain perfusion with magnetic resonance
tomography
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are extensively genotyped. The original recruitment target
of 2,500 subjects has almost been achieved, with 2,380
having signed up. In addition to its coordination tasks, the
Düsseldorf study centre deals above all with analysing
the electrophysiological data (P300 and P50 paradigms).
Corresponding manuscripts are currently being prepared or
are already published.
Multi-centre fMRT study of neuronal correlates
of cognitive behavioural therapy in patients
with psychotic disorders
Participation in the homonymous multi-centre study
(Principal Investigator: T. Kircher, RWTH Aachen/University
Marburg) within the POSITIVE Psychotherapy Research
Network
F. Musso, J. Brinkmeyer, G. Winterer in cooperation with
the Experimental Psychopathology Research Laboratory
(W. Wölwer) and the Institute for Radiology at the Heinrich-
Heine University, Düsseldorf (A. Saleh)
Project period: 2006–2010
Financing: FMER funding for T. Kircher, Aachen/Marburg
This countrywide, multi-centre study, with six study centres,
includes fMRT assessments in patients with schizophrenia
before and after treatment within the clinical trial “Cognitive
behavioural study of the treatment of positive symptoms
of psychotic disorders” (cf. Experimental Psychopathology
Research Laboratory). This accompanying brain imaging
is designed to provide neuronal correlates of illusions
and hallucinations and their modifications in the course
of the treatment. A total of 80 patients with schizophrenia
will be included across all centres; after the initial fMRI
assessment half of the patients will be treated over nine
months with cognitive behaviour therapy and half with
supportive therapy, followed by a second fMRI assessment.
In order to standardise the assessment and estimate
possible treatment-dependent reorganisation processes
in the brain, 80 healthy subjects will also be investigated
twice, at a 9-month interval. During the fMRI assessment,
cognitive test paradigms are used which (A) on the one hand
assess the potentially relevant processes in the creation and
persistence of illusions and (B) on the other hand are in the
focus of the therapeutic intervention: selective attention for
threatening stimuli, jumping to conclusions and neuronal
correlates of hallucinations. Recruitment went according to
plan in the reporting period; analyses have so far only been
performed and published for secondary objectives of the
study.