Mental Health Solicitors

Researchers in Ireland have discovered that IQ and memory tests may hold the clue to whether to a person might go on to develop schizophrenia.

Lead researcher Professor Gary Donohue from the National University of Ireland Galway – working with colleagues at Trinity College Dublin – said that estimating cognitive impairment in patients who have not yet begin to present symptoms of schizophrenia may also help predict how seriously a patient may be affected by the mental disorder in the future, as well as predicting the onset of the disorder.

Prof Donohue studied a group of 424 patients – 340 patients had schizophrenia or a related mental health condition, while 83 patients had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or a depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms.

The researchers looked for genetic variants of the schizophrenia-associated gene ZNF804A – the first gene to be linked to schizophrenia.

The team found that higher scores for genetic variants of ZNF804A were also linked to poorer cognitive abilities, including social cognitive function – known as social intelligence or the ability to handle or understand social relationships and situations.

Prof Donohue said that understanding how genetic variants contribute to psychotic mental health conditions such as schizophrenia was an important step towards understanding the underlying biology of such conditions – and developing “better and more personalised treatments” for mental health patients.

Co-author Dr April Hargreaves – working with Dr Kristen Nicodemus, both from Trinity College Dublin – said that the study could point the way to identifying risk factors for psychotic conditions like schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.

The study was funded by the Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board and is published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of specialist mental health solicitors and can advise mental health patients on access to mental health services in their area, as well as detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors frequently visit police stations and hospitals – and in some cases may be able to advise the next of kin of a mental health patient, including initiating treatment reviews.

For expert legal advice for mental health patients contact the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124.