Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

U. Minnesota researches schizophrenia

The University of Minnesota devotes research to unlock secrets of schizophrenia

Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in his teens, Sam Yeager, 54, of Minneapolis, Minn., has participated in four of University of Minnesota psychiatry professor Steve Olson's studies, including medication studies and a weight-loss study.

Yeager used to struggle with blackouts, anxiety and paranoia, but said he has benefited from the medication given to him in the drug studies.

He said he enjoys the extra money made from participating in the studies and getting to work with Olson.

When asked how schizophrenia has impacted his life, Yeager said he's not sure because he's always had it.

Olson conducts clinical trials on old and new antipsychotic medications that treat depression. One of the keys to treating people with schizophrenia is finding medications that treat the symptoms while keeping the side effects to a minimum, Olson said.

One of Olson's studies, "Comparisons for Atypicals for First Episode," looked at people experiencing initial symptoms of the illness. These participants were displaying symptoms of the disease that are harder to treat, such as a monotone voice or a loss or decrease in the ability to make plans, speak or express emotion or find pleasure in everyday life.

Olson gave participants three new antipsychotic medicines. Researchers found two-thirds of the patients responded well to the medication, and found no major differences in results between the three medicines.

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