GWAS analysis of treatment resistant schizophrenia: interaction effect of childhood trauma

In the current study, we aimed to compare the prevalence of adverse lifetime events in treatment resistant and non-treatment resistant schizophrenia in a genome-wide association study. Our sample consisted of 84 Caucasian participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, assessed cross-sectionally to collect information regarding drug effectiveness and childhood trauma. Using a genome-wide association analysis, we tested single-nucleotide polymorphisms for their association with resistance to antipsychotics defined according to American Psychiatric Association criteria. Two models were tested: a main model and an interaction model with the childhood trauma. Our analysis failed to demonstrate a significant relationship among 1,178,234 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and treatment-resistance in both the main model and in the childhood trauma interaction model. Even though we could not find any significant association, treatment resistance has clinical relevance and it may be determined by the interaction between biological and non biological factors.