High scorers on the personality trait neuroticism are at greatly increased risk of major depression and other neurotic disorders. Neuroticism is a personality trait that shows considerable stability over adulthood. It has a strong genetic basis and it seems that the same genes also determine risk of depression, anxiety and other neuroses. By selecting twins and sibs extremely discordant and concordant (EDAC) for neuroticism we can greatly reduce the cost and increase the power to find genes infl ....High scorers on the personality trait neuroticism are at greatly increased risk of major depression and other neurotic disorders. Neuroticism is a personality trait that shows considerable stability over adulthood. It has a strong genetic basis and it seems that the same genes also determine risk of depression, anxiety and other neuroses. By selecting twins and sibs extremely discordant and concordant (EDAC) for neuroticism we can greatly reduce the cost and increase the power to find genes influencing depression. Questionnaire responses and interviews from 15,027 Australian twins and 11,389 of their family members were reviewed to identify individuals with neuroticism scores in the top and bottom 10%. These individuals were invited to participate in a structured psychiatric interview by telephone, and to give a blood sample. Participation and DNA sampling rates were high and there was minimal evident participation bias. DNA was collected from 2,926 individuals from 884 families including 1,333 EDAC sibling pairs and over 795 parents. A preliminary genome scan on one third of this sample yields several linkage peaks suggesting genes of major effect that appear to replicate findings in similar studies conducted in Holland and England. Given these results it is highly desirable that we obtain a genome scan on the remainder of selected extreme sample. Another one third of this sample is currently being genotyped in America and here we request funds to genotype the remaining third. .If we are successful in identifying genes underlying neuroticism, we will also be able to analyse their contribution to depression and anxiety. This could lead to better drug treatments.Read moreRead less
A Genome-wide Linkage Study Of Schizophrenia In A Large Sample From Tamil Nadu, India
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Study of Schizophrenia in Tamil Nadu, India. The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but there is good evidence that genes play a role. Geneticists do not fully understand how the disease is inherited, but it is very complex, and several interacting genes as well as environmental factors are probably involved. We have been recruiting families with at least two siblings with schizophrenia from a number of communities-casts in Tamil Nadu. We plan to recruit a total of 400 affected sibling familie ....A Study of Schizophrenia in Tamil Nadu, India. The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but there is good evidence that genes play a role. Geneticists do not fully understand how the disease is inherited, but it is very complex, and several interacting genes as well as environmental factors are probably involved. We have been recruiting families with at least two siblings with schizophrenia from a number of communities-casts in Tamil Nadu. We plan to recruit a total of 400 affected sibling families, together with 400 trio families (both parents, plus their affected child). A genome-wide scan of the genetic code in all individuals will be conducted to identify chromosomal regions linked to schizophrenia. This is the first necessary step toward identifying schizophrenia susceptibility genes. If one or more genes are discovered, this will greatly improve our understanding of this disease. It will also stimulate the search for similar genes in other samples world-wide, including Australia where schizophrenia costs $2.5 billion annually in terms of treatment and loss of employment. With such a discovery, it may be possible to find better treatments that correct the basic cause of the illness and identify factors that protect against the illness.Read moreRead less
A Genetic Study Of Schizophrenia In The Brahmin Of Tamil Nadu
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,226.00
Summary
The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but there is good evidence that genes play a role. Geneticists do not fully understand how it is inherited, but it is very complex, and several interacting genes as well as environmental factors are probably involved. Societies such as Australia are genetically diverse because people from many different ethnic groups have intermarried. To detect susceptibility genes in this type of population, we must study very large patient samples. Alternatively, we can ....The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but there is good evidence that genes play a role. Geneticists do not fully understand how it is inherited, but it is very complex, and several interacting genes as well as environmental factors are probably involved. Societies such as Australia are genetically diverse because people from many different ethnic groups have intermarried. To detect susceptibility genes in this type of population, we must study very large patient samples. Alternatively, we can study genetically homogenous patient samples, found in isolated gene-pool populations. One such population is the Brahmin people in Tamil Nadu, a south-eastern state of India. The Brahmin are descended from the Aryan peoples who migrated into southern India 2000 years ago. In the Hindu caste system, Brahmin are the highly educated priest class, and enjoy a privileged position in society. Traditionally, marriages among the Brahmin of Tamil Nadu have been prearranged, with a preference for first-cousin marriages. As well as this cultural and historical evidence, genetic marker studies confirm that this population is a suitable genetic isolate. In this project, genetic material (DNA) will be collected from Brahmin schizophrenic patients and their families. Diagnostic data, detailed family data, and blood samples will be gathered from 90-100 extended families, each containing two or more ill individuals. Analysis of their genetic code will enable a search for possible schizophrenia susceptibility genes and a systematic search for a mutation. If found, this will greatly improve our understanding of schizophrenia, and stimulate the search for similar genes in other samples world-wide, including Australia where schizophrenia costs $3 billion annually in terms of treatment and lost jobs. If schizophrenia genes can be found, it may be possible to find better treatments that correct the basic causes of the illness and identify factors that protect against the illness.Read moreRead less
An Examination Of The Causes Of Mortality Following Imprisonment In New South Wales Using Data-linkage.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,500.00
Summary
Prisoner populations are characterised by poor health status including infectious diseases, injury, risk taking behaviours (eg. smoking and self-harm), mental illness, and substance abuse. Serosurveys of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis C and hepatitis B conducted in Australian and overseas prison settings have found that over one third of inmates have been exposed to these viruses with higher rates detected in injecting drug users and female inmates. Few attempts have been made to examine ....Prisoner populations are characterised by poor health status including infectious diseases, injury, risk taking behaviours (eg. smoking and self-harm), mental illness, and substance abuse. Serosurveys of blood borne viruses such as hepatitis C and hepatitis B conducted in Australian and overseas prison settings have found that over one third of inmates have been exposed to these viruses with higher rates detected in injecting drug users and female inmates. Few attempts have been made to examine the causes of mortality among prisoners following release from detention. Most interest has focused on overdoses in the period immediately following release; the aim of this study will examine all causes of death among individuals exposed to the correctional environment and compare these to death rates for NSW. Correctional centres house a largely male (94% in NSW) population with backgrounds of disadvantage in all areas, including Indigenous Australians, people of lower socio-economic status, those with a mental illness, and the intellectually disabled. There are currently over 21,000 (June 2001) prisoners detained in Australian correctional centres with approximately 39% housed in NSW. Fifteen percent of the NSW prisoners are Indigenous but comprise only 2% of the general population. The aims of this project will be to: (1) Identify all causes of death among ex-prisoners in NSW for the period 1985 to 2001; (2). Compare death rates in the study group with those in the NSW community; (3) Correlate pre-release health information contained in medical records with specific causes of death; (4) Compare causes of mortality among various sub-groups eg. injecting drug users, the mentally ill, violent offenders, and the intellectually disabled; (5) Examine causes of mortality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates; and (6) use this information to develop pre-release programmes aimed at reducing excess mortality among this group.Read moreRead less
What Do Australians Think About Privacy And Participation In Epidemiological Research?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,015.00
Summary
There is very little research available, in Australia or internationally, about what the general public considers privacy to be; or how important privacy protection is in the context of high and low risk epidemiological studies. We also know little about what affects willingness to participate in epidemiological research. Our research will provide an evidence base, and develop resources for the legislature, the NHMRC, ethics committees and researchers.