Mette Ødegaard Nielsen

Antipsychotic medication is an important treatment for many patients with schizophrenia, but not all patients need lifelong treatment, and most patients wish to find out if they can do well without the medication. Discontinuation of their medication is for some patients unfortunately associated with severe psychotic relapse.

In the present project we will examine whether changes in inflammatory markers and vagal tone can be identified in patients with schizophrenia before a severe psychotic relapse can be detected clinically. Identifying a ‘high risk signature’ will help differentiate between patients who safely can continue tapering of antipsychotics and patients who need continuous treatment with antipsychotic medicine. The consequence will be a more personalized treatment with less side effects.