Sleep disturbance, inflammation, and social cognition & behavior in people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders
Sleep disturbance occurs in up to 80% of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) and is linked to increased symptomatology, risk for suicide attempts, reduced functional capacities, and poorer quality of life. Some work suggests associations between sleep disturbance and neurocognition in this population, but the relationship between sleep disturbance and social cognition in individuals with SSDs remains unexplored. The potential role of inflammation, which is linked to both sleep disturbance and social behavior, has also not been examined. The SCORS Lab has funding from three sources - a NARSAD Young Investigator Award from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (www.bbrfoundation.org), a Pilot Project from the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research (MCCTR), and an R15 REAP Award through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) - to examine these inter-relationships.
These projects utilize intensive longitudinal methods including ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and actigraphy. Inflammation is assessed using dried blood spots. Results have the potential to identify a novel intervention target (i.e., sleep) that could improve social outcomes for individuals with SSDs. |