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Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe and debilitating disease. People with schizophrenia often have severe symptoms such as hearing voices not heard by others (auditory hallucinations), seeing things not seen by others (visual hallucinations), or believing that other people can read their minds or control their bodies. People with schizophrenia may become so disorganized in how they behave and talk that others become concerned. Schizophrenia is typically a lifelong illness, but there are treatment options, and research is trying to discover new and safer treatments.

Signs of schizophrenia include:

  • Hallucinations: Perceptions in the absence of a real source (such as hearing voices that other people do not hear).
  • Delusions: False beliefs that cannot be changed by contradictory evidence and are not explained by a person's cultural beliefs. Delusions include the belief that one is being harassed, that others mean them harm or they are receiving special messages through the television or radio.
  • Disorganized thoughts: Difficulty concentrating or focusing their attention. They have difficulty thinking in a logical sequence, and have fragmented thoughts.
  • Emotional flattening: Frequently have a "blunted" affect or a reduction in emotional expressivity, and are often socially withdrawn.
If you have had some of the above symptoms, you may be suffering from schizophrenia. Similar to other medical conditions, schizophrenia can be treated. The Cedars-Sinai's Psychiatry Research Team may be able to help.

The Psychiatry Research Team is not currently conducting clinical trials dealing with schizophrenia and its symptoms. However, we will be beginning new schizophrenia studies in the next few months. Qualified clinical trial participants will receive study medication, physical exams and lab tests at no cost.

Our Schizophrenia Research Studies:

The Genomic Psychiatry Cohort: This research study hopes to find the genes responsible for increasing the chance of developing schizophrenia and related disorders. (This genetic research study does not involve not genetic testing) Participation involves a single office visit lasting no more than 2 hours at which you will complete a brief screening questionnaire and a diagnostic interview, and donate a small sample of blood. Compensation is $50.

To find out more about the clinical trials clinical trials on schizophrenia or to enroll, please contact us at:

Psychiatry Research at the Thalians Mental Health Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8730 Alden Dr., Room E-123
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 1-888-CEDARS-3 (233-2773)
Alt Phone: (310) 423-6515
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