Grant: Operating Grant

Antipsychotic medications are used extensively for treatment of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. One of the most debilitating side effect is antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) which can result in obesity and related medical conditions (e.g. diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) leading to a high risk for premature death. In addition, patients who are obese will create substantial additional costs to the health care system. Thus it is essential to investigate mechanisms of AIWG and develop prediction tools that reduce the occurrence of obesity in these vulnerable patients.Family and twin studies strongly support genetic factors being involved in the occurrence of AIWG. In our previous studies funded by CIHR,we have contributed extensively towards identifying first important gene variants associated with AIWG. However, further work is needed incorporating more advanced strategies which consider recent advances in biotechnology and biostatistics. In this study we aim to expand our investigations by detecting new gene variants associated with AIWG by sequencing mitochondrial DNA and to perform genome wide analyses. Our main goal is to develop a genetic risk model to predict AIWG. In addition, the clinical utility of the model will be investigated in a large sample of antipsychotic-treated patients. These represent important steps towards clinical application of genetics of AIWG. In summary, a better understanding of genetic risk factors for AIWG may help clarify the biological mechanisms and help the clinician choose the best medication for an individual patient. In addition, it may provide novel targets for future drug discovery. This increased standard of care through individualized treatment will also help to reduce health care costs and therefore be beneficial for Canadian patients and the health care system.