Program Overview

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are severe chronic psychiatric disorders that are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Schizophrenia has an estimated heritability of 80% (due to interplay between multiple genes and environmental factors). Family studies on patients with bipolar disorder suggest a significant genetic component, but there also appears to be a complex interaction of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors. According to recent twin studies, similar genomic regions could play a role in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

In recent years, neuropsychiatry has seen an explosion of interest in genetics and brain imaging. Neuroimaging (such as magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography) has been increasingly utilized to study brain abnormalities associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, which may have neurodevelopmental origins. Advances in neuroimaging may help uncover patterns of abnormal cerebral maturation and thus aid the clinician in early detection of diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Genetic profiles combined with imaging studies have led the way to a greater understanding of the neurobiology of these diseases and identified potential patterns indicative of a shared genetic risk.

Other studies have helped to reinforce psychiatry’s current understanding of receptor pharmacology, so clinicians can better predict efficacy and adverse effects for patients in order to improve adherence and long-term outcomes.

This symposium will review recent genetic and imaging studies and review current atypical antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The clinical implications of the differential receptor pharmacology of these agents will also be discussed. Combining information from all of these sources is essential to allow the practicing psychiatrist to improve diagnostic and treatment paradigms for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Educational Objectives

After attending this symposium, participants should be better able to:

• Describe how neuroimaging can be helpful to elucidate pathophysiology and may, in the future, provide diagnostic information for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
• Review current understanding of the genetic underpinnings of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
• Discuss the differential receptor pharmacology of the atypical antipsychotics and the potential clinical implications of these differences along with efficacy and tolerability

Target Audience

This activity is intended for psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals attending the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

Accreditation Statement

This activity is no longer available for credit.

Credit Designation

This activity is no longer available for credit.

Faculty Disclosure

The American Psychiatric Association requires disclosure by faculty of CME activities of all financial interest(s) or other affiliation(s) with commercial organization(s) that may have a direct or in-direct interest in the subject matter of the scientific program. A “financial interest” may include, but is not limited to, being a shareholder in the organization; being on retainer with the organization; or having research or honoraria paid by the organization. An “affiliation” may include holding a position on an advisory committee or some other role or benefit to a supporting organization. The existence of such relationships does not necessarily constitute a conflict of interest, but the prospective audience must be informed of the faculty’s affiliation with every commercial entity by means of an acknowledgement in the printed materials. This policy is intended to openly identify any potential conflict(s) so that members of the audience in an educational activity are able to form their own judgments about the presentation.

Activity Chairpersons

Robert E. Hales, MD, MBA
Joe P. Tupin Endowed Chair
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
University of California, Davis School of Medicine
Sacramento, California

Stuart C. Yudofsky, MD
D.C. and Irene Ellwood Professor and Chairman
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine
Chairman, Department of Psychiatry
The Methodist Hospital
Houston, Texas

Faculty