Systematic Genetic Analysis of Phenomenology and Treatment Response in Mood Disorders

The study entails a one-time blood draw that will be used to obtain phenotypic data and DNA of all eligible mood disorders patients, and their parents (if applicable), who are treated within the Psychiatry Department at University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC). In rare instances, if a participant is unable to cooperate with a blood draw, a saliva sample will be collected instead of drawing blood. All eligible participants will be diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, or be a parent of a child diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, and will be seen for the study visit at the Department of Psychiatry at University Hospitals of Cleveland, 10524 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106. Required lab specimens will be collected at University Hospitals Laboratory Services or the Department of Psychiatry, and analyzed at UHCMC and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) or at an NIH sponsored sequencing or genotyping laboratory.

DNA sample from eligible subjects will undergo whole genome genetic analysis using array-based genotyping or sequencing technologies. The clinical phenotypes, treatment response profiles and genotype data will be analyzed using single and multivariate analyses in order to identify genes and genomic regions contributing to inter-patient variability in disease susceptibility, clinical phenotypes and treatment responses. Alternatively, as sequencing costs decline continuously, the DNA samples may undergo targeted genomic region deep sequencing or whole genome sequencing analysis.

Any clinical patient, research participant or parent of a child patient, seven years and older, within the Department of Psychiatry will be targeted for enrollment. Eligible participants will be diagnosed with DSM-IV bipolar disorder (type I, II, or not otherwise specified) or DSM-IV major depressive disorder, as determined by an extensive clinical interview and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus (MINI-Plus) if applicable or will be a parent of a child diagnosed with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.

The primary phenotype definition for the genetic analyses proposed here is DSM-IV diagnosis (BD or MDD), phenotypic variables (comorbidities etc.), and treatment response, defined either continuously (change in symptom measures) or categorically (response/non-response), made on the basis of structured diagnostic instruments.

In summary, we expect the following types of phenotypic data (as shown in the attached minimum data set CRF) to be available for majority of participants:

• Demographic information including gender, age and ethnicity.
• Psychiatric diagnosis and history including age of onset and course of mood disorder etc.
• Family history of illness including psychiatric disorders, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The additional clinical variables (from minimum dataset and clinical trials) may define mood disorder subtypes that are more genetically homogeneous and therefore more likely to reveal the influence of genes.

Once a participant has signed the informed consent form, a blood sample of approximately 4 teaspoons of blood, or a saliva sample of approximately half a teaspoon of saliva, will be collected for DNA extraction. The DNA samples will be linked with phenotypic data collected from the study participants. The blood draw or saliva collection and minimum data set questions are the only procedures that participants will need to complete once they decide to participate in the study. The informed consent form will specify that the demographic and diagnostic information used for this study will be taken from participation within another study or from the medical records of clinical patients; participants will not participate in this study if they do not provide consent to use their data retrospectively.