186 Copyright © 2014 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association ORIGINAL ARTICLE A Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 Gene Variant is Associated with Clinical Symptomatology in Patients with First-Episode Psychosis

ObjectiveaaDISC1 gene is one of the main candidate genes for schizophrenia since it has been associated to the illness in several popu-lations. Moreover, variations in several DISC1 polymorphisms, and in particular Ser704Cys SNP, have been associated in schizophrenic patients to structural and functional modifications in two brain areas (pre-frontal cortex and hippocampus) that play a central role in the genesis of psychotic symptoms. This study tested the association between Ser704Cys DISC1 polymorphism and the clinical onset of psychosis. MethodsaaTwo hundred and thirteen Caucasian drug-naïve patients experiencing a first episode of non-affective psychosis were geno-typed for rs821616 (Ser704Cys) SNP of the DISC1 gene. The clinical severity of the illness was assessed using SAPS and SANS scales. Other clinical and socio-demographic variables were recorded to rule out possible confounding effects. ResultsaaPatients homozygous for the Ser allele of the Ser704Cys DISC1 SNP had significantly (p<0.05) higher rates at the positive symptoms dimension (SAPS-SANS scales) and hallucinations item, compared to Cys carriers. ConclusionaaDISC1 gene variations may modulate the clinical severity of the psychosis at the onset of the disorder