Project Summary

Cheryl Corcoran, M.D. (Young Investigator 2002) of New York State Psychiatric Institute, will evaluate whether life events and cortisol are associated with the emergence of psychotic symptoms and cognitive impairment in individuals identified as prodromal to psychosis.  The study is important because it will test a general assumption that life events precede psychosis onset in vulnerable individuals and it translates basic science findings of the effects of stress on hippocampus-dependent memory to a study of a clinical population.  Over two years, subjects will have baseline and then follow-up assessments of life events, perceived stress, salivary cortisol, and emerging positive, negative and cognitive symptoms.  The study may increase understanding of vulnerability markers in the area of schizophrenia research.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia\Child/Adolescent (Early Onset)

Search Again