Department News
First Episode Psychosis Study at the Center for Cognitive Medicine

Researchers at the newly established Center for Cognitive Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago are beginning recruitment for a study investigating first episode psychosis. The aim is to identify the brain abnormalities in schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses that interfere with normal thought processes.

The Center is dedicated to integrating knowledge and techniques of multiple disciplines to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with brain disorders. The Director of the Center, John A. Sweeney, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Psychology at UIC, conducts clinical studies utilizing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), neurophysiological and neurocognitive methods to investigate schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism.

As a leading innovator in the use of functional MRI, Dr. Sweeney uses brain imaging to facilitate early accurate diagnosis, to identify brain abnormalities present at illness onset, and to learn more about how to best treat patients at the early phase of psychotic disorders. There is a great need for improved diagnosis and treatment of patients early in the course of psychotic illnesses, helping patients and their families to deal with sudden changes in cognitive, emotional and social functioning. Investigators will also study patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenic or mood disorders to learn more about the longer-term impact of psychotic disorders and psychiatric medications on brain function.

Several lines of evidence suggest that there are robust disturbances in prefrontal cortex (PFC) in schizophrenia and affective disorders. Examples of patients are shown in the brain images in this article who have (patient 2) and do not have (patient 1) this abnormality. Using a powerful state-of-the-art 3.0 Tesla MR scanner at the Center for MR Research at UIC Medical Center, Dr. Sweeney's team will investigate the clinical importance of this abnormality, and the ability of treatments to reduce the impairment. Close collaboration with the Psychiatric Clinical Research Center (PCRC) at UIC Medical Center will provide inpatient care to research participants if necessary. There, patients will receive expert and comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, and begin treatment with close clinical monitoring.

Dr. Sweeney's research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.