Direct Measurements of Cardiometabolic Risk in Treated Schizophrenia Patients

In comparison to the general population, major mental illness is associated with higher rates of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These problems can result in a life span that can be up to 25 years shorter than in people without a major mental illness. This study uses established medical tests that can predict how you might be affected. The purpose of this study is to compare the risk for these disorders in people with schizophrenia with the risk for these disorders in other people without schizophrenia.

The inclusion criteria for the schizophrenia/schizoaffective group are: i) aged 18-55 years; ii) otherwise healthy and meets DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, any type, or schizoaffective disorder iii) able to give informed consent. The inclusion criteria for children are: i) age 10-18 years; ii) otherwise healthy and meets DSM-IV criteria for one or more childhood-onset psychiatric disorder iii) able to give assent and have a guardian able to provide informed consent. The inclusion criteria for the healthy controls are: aged 18-55 years; ii) otherwise healthy and do not meet DSM-IV criteria for any Axis I psychiatric illness; iii) able to give informed consent. The exclusion criteria are: i) Any lifetime DSM-IV diagnoses of intravenous drug use or alcohol dependence, or if criteria for alcohol abuse were ever met, subject must have not met criteria for abuse within the last 12 months; ii) any history of hepatitis; iii) medications that can cause significant changes in hepatic function, glucose, or lipid metabolism, as determined by the investigator; iv) lipid lowering or glucose lowering medications; v) involuntary legal status (as per Missouri law); vi) pregnancy.