An Association Study of the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 6 Gene With Periodic Psychosis

OBJECTIVE: Recent molecular and genetic investigations have suggested that the current nosology for major psychiatric disorders, based on the "two-entities-principal" is not accurate with respect to clinical observations; patient groups that do not fit to the current operative diagnostic boundaries are readily identified. We aimed to perform an investigation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) gene (located on 12q13), which has an important role in the apoptotic cascade, with patients suffering from periodic psychosis. METHODS: Genetic association study has been employed for the current work. Investigated six tag-SNPs were chosen from Hapmap database. RESULTS: Among six tag-SNPs, one marker (rs10783813), located in the STAT6 gene, showed modest association (p<0.05), although no marker or haplotype block showed association after Bonferroni's correction. CONCLUSION: Future studies will reveal the etiological role of STAT6, and of other genes of the apoptotic cascade, in major psychiatric disorders.

Four Cases of Psychoses Suffering from Akathisia and Psychotic Symptoms Effectively Treated with Sanou-shashin-to / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Four patients suffering from akathisia and psychotic symptoms were remarkably improved with Sanou-shashin-to. The first case was a 49-year-old woman with atypical psychosis. The other cases were from twenties to thirties years old women with schizophrenia. All cases were “Jitsu sho” and had constipation. San'o-shashin-to 6.0g (EK-13) a day was administered in all cases and Toukaku-joki-to 7.5g (TJ-61) a day was prescribed in the first case and in the fourth case. In several days, the chief complaint “I can't stand still.” almost disappeared.<br>These cases suggest that San'o-shashin-to involved Rhei Rhizoma (Rhubarb) may be effective for the treatment of akathisia associated with schizophrenia and atypical psychosis and the total dose was decreased by its use because Rhubarb has psychotropic effects and cathartic action.