Schizophrenia is a debilitating disease affecting approximately one percent of the population. Twin and adoption studies indicate schizophrenia develops from an interaction between inherited risk, most likely through multiple genes, and environment with no one cause being sufficient or required (Bassett et al., 2001; McGuffin et al., 1995; Tsuang, 2000). 83-88% of risk for schizophrenia is inheritable, with the remainder attributable to local environmental risks (Cardno and Gottesman, 2000). Inherited risk can occur through changes to the DNA sequence (mutations) and through chemical modifications that change how genes are turned on and off (expressed) such as methylation (epigenetics). Epigenetic changes can themselves result from environmental input during embryonic development or inherited, making the situation even more complex.

There appears to be disease subgroups each showing the same symptoms (phenotype) of schizophrenia. If each subtype has different a cause discovery of underlying risk factors is further hampered. Rather than use diagnosis alone The Ness Foundation is using methods which measure specific biological traits that may be altered in a given schizophrenia subtype (endophenotypes) (Gottesman and Gould, 2003). Poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for normal brain development and function and alterations in their metabolism may be involved in the development of mental illnesses. The immune system may also play a role in development of schizophrenia and related disorders. Understanding how the trait underlying each endophenotype is altered will improve our understanding of the illness. Ultimately research methods used or in development at The Ness Foundation such as the Niacin Skin Patch Test or the Breath Test are designed to investigate the overlap between environment and inheritance in the risk of complex diseases like schizophrenia. The ultimate aim of The Ness Foundation is to improve diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.

The Ness Foundation is always expanding and updating its research methods, projects and funding sources through national and international collaboration. You can get involved by participating in our collection trials by clicking on the link on the left of the page our perhaps helping by donation. Our vision is to be able to develop in the next few years a simple-to-use diagnostic kit that can be used in any GP surgery to identify quickly and non invasively whether or not a patient with early symptoms is suffering from schizophrenia, or has different problems which need addressing.  This is particularly applicable in remote and rural communities where access to specialist consultant care is difficult to obtain without travel and cost.

Important - The disorders described on this website are serious conditions.  You should discuss with your doctor how the new advances in our understanding of what causes them relates to you.  Most importantly, the new treatments mentioned are experimental and you are advised to consult with your doctor before changing or starting any medication or treatment programme.