OVERVIEW

Gluten Sensitivity in Schizophrenia is organized by College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP).

Activity Dates: 06/01/2018 - 04/24/2021

Target Audience:
This course is designed for pharmacists and/or other healthcare professionals involved in the medication management of individuals living with psychiatric, neurologic and/or substance use disorders.

ACPE Contact Hours: 1.0

Description:
Deconstructing the illness of schizophrenia is of particular interest as this heterogeneous disorder may be composed of etiologically distinct disorders with different mechanisms which could all serve as treatment targets for components of the disorder. One specific group with elevated peripheral and central inflammatory response is those with schizophrenia having elevations in antigliadin antibodies (AGA IgG). In addition to high inflammation, this subgroup may be distinct by having lower positive symptoms and high kynurenic acid levels. It remains unclear, however, how these elevations in AGA IgG and immune activation in this subgroup may contribute to the illness and schizophrenia psychopathology; however it may be related to gut permeability or mimicry/cross reactivity to proteins present. This population may represent a subgroup which may have personalized and targeted treatments developed. This talk will discuss the emerging association of inflammation and immune activity in schizophrenia, review the data that helps characterize the subgroup with AGA IgG and present ongoing work for treatment targets and mechanisms of action connecting gluten to schizophrenia. This work suggests that more personalized treatments targeting diet modulation or immune/inflammation may play future roles in schizophrenia treatment.

Learning Objectives:
• Describe the emerging role of inflammation in schizophrenia.
• Discuss ongoing research to characterize subgroup of schizophrenia patients with immune response and inflammation to gluten.
• Recognize potential pathophysiologic mechanisms related to an immune response to gluten.
• Understand ongoing work for personalizing treatment in this subgroup of schizophrenia with potential gluten sensitivity.

Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.