Schizophrenia (Pediatric) Research Study
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Brain Imaging of Childhood Onset Psychiatric Disorders, Endocrine Disorders and Healthy Controls
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) combines a powerful magnet, radio waves, and sophisticated computer technology to provide exquisitely accurate information about the anatomy and physiology of the living, growing human brain - and it does so without the use of harmful radiation. This allows not only for the scanning of children and teens but of repeated scans over the course of development and has launched a new era of adolescent neuroscience. In this study, researchers will use MRIs to assess brain anatomy and function in healthy volunteers and patients with a variety of childhood onset psychiatric disorders. Identical or non-identical twins are of particular interest for the study. Also, because of questions about differences between boy and girl brains people that have atypical hormone levels, such as in congenital adrenal hyperplasia or precocious puberty, or atypical sex chromosome numbers, such as XXY, XXX, XYY, or XXXXY will be included as well. In addition to the brain images, information will be collected about behavior, emotions, and cognition and combined with genetic testing to explore the relationships between genes, brain, and behavior.
To find out if you qualify or for more information, please call (301) 496-5645 or email us at nimhcore@mail.nih.gov.
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Protocol Information |
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Schizophrenia (Pediatric) Research Study
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Childhood Onset Psychotic Disorders
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If your child is between 6 and 18 years old and a mental health professional thinks your child had schizophrenia before his/her 13th birthday, you child may qualify for a study being conducted by the Child Psychiatry Branch. We are looking for children who, before their 13th birthday, had severe hallucinations (voices/visions) and other psychotic symptoms which made them act very different from other children. This inpatient study tries to understand the causes of severe hallucinations (voices/visions) and other psychotic behaviors; the study offers treatment with a comparison of two drugs used to treat psychosis: Clozaril (clozapine) and Zyprexa (olanzapine). This drug trial begins with: 1) 3 weeks of evaluation and extensive testing while the child is on the medications they were on at admission 2) gradual decrease of medications 3) up to 3 weeks without any medication to help the staff be certain of the diagnosis. At the end of this time, if the staff diagnoses your child with childhood onset schizophrenia, then the child is put on 8 weeks of either clozapine or olanzapine and maybe another 8 weeks of whichever medication (clozapine or olanzapine) the child did not receive during the first 8 week period. Research participation and medication is free of charge; transportation and housing are provided to parents.
To find out if your child qualifies or for more information, please call (301) 496-5645 or email us at nimhcore@mail.nih.gov.
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Protocol Information |
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Schizophrenia (Pediatric) Research Study
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Screening Protocol for Childhood Onset Psychotic Disorders
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If your child is between 6 and 18 years old and a mental health professional thinks your child had schizophrenia before his/her 13th birthday, your child may qualify for a study being conducted by the Child Psychiatry Branch. We are looking for children who, before their 13th birthday, had severe hallucinations (voices/visions) and other psychotic symptoms which made them act very different from other children. There are two inpatient studies being conducted with these children. One study is a three week inpatient evaluation study with no changes in medication; recommendations from doctors, teachers, nurses and other professionals will be provided to the families after the child's discharge. The other study is a 4 to 6 month inpatient study involving a time off medication as well as medications used to treat schizophrenia. Research participation is free of charge; transportation and housing are provided to parents.
To find out if your child qualifies or for more information, please call (301) 496-5645 or email us at nimhcore@mail.nih.gov.
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Protocol Information |
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