Tech Spotlight: Biomarkers Predicting Response to Schizophrenia Treatment

Unlike diabetes and hypothyroidism, neuro-psychological diseases currently do not benefit from approved, simple blood tests that assist in proper dosing of medications. For diseases like schizophrenia, doses of antipsychotics are determined (inadequately) by subjective means like questioning and observing a patient, and by trial and error. Each error in medication dose subjects the patient to a likely relapse; relapse is significant and may cost the patient life, family support, job and home.

A research team led by Judith Gault of the University of Colorado has discovered that DISC1 isoform levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are an effective treatment response marker for patients on a variety of antipsychotics. This discovery has led to the development of methods for predicting effective treatment of schizophrenia by monitoring a patient’s fluid sample (e.g., blood) to measure the patient’s genetic (transcriptional) response to medications. The biomarker of treatment-response can be used as an indicator of treatment success or ineffectiveness, and lead to the ability to further optimize the dose of medication in patients with schizophrenia to prevent relapse.

Updated reference: Elevated DISC1 transcript levels in PBMCs during acute psychosis in patients with schizophrenia. Translational Biomedicine, Vol. 2 No. 1:4 (2011).

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