German research network on schizophrenia

Abstract

The German Research Network on Schizophrenia (GRNS) is a nationwide network of presently 16 psychiatric university departments, 14 state and district hospitals, as well as six local networks of psychiatric practices and general practitioners, which are collaborating in about 25 interrelated, multicentre projects on schizophrenia research. The GRNS aims to intensify collaboration and knowledge exchange between leading research institutions and qualified routine care facilities, both within (horizontal network) and between (vertical network) the two levels of research and care, in order to create the scientific preconditions for optimization of care in patients with schizophrenia. With respect to illness development, the network is organized into two main "Project Networks" (PN). Whereas PN I targets the implementation of early detection and early intervention strategies, PN II aims at optimization of acute and long-term treatment, especially in first-episode patients. PN II also includes projects aiming at improvement of rehabilitation, particularly in patients with residual symptoms. Furthermore, there is a "Special Network" on molecular and pharmaco-genetics. Several more general projects address fighting stigma and discrimination, health care economy, continuing medical education, quality assurance, and methodology. The network is mainly funded by the German Ministry for Research spanning a period of 5 years.

Internal capsule size associated with outcome in first-episode schizophrenia

“…The first-episode study program [6] of the German Research Network on Schizophrenia (GRNS) [26] consisted of an 8-week acute treatment phase and a consecutive 2-year long-term treatment phase (registered in ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00159081). Between 2000 and 2004, 158 first-episode patients, aged 18–55 years and treated in inpatients departments of the participating centres, were randomly assigned to double-blind, low-dose haloperidol or risperidone.…”

Evaluating Depressive Symptoms in Schizophrenia: A Psychometric Comparison of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

“…Data were collected in a multicenter follow-up programme (German Research Network on Schizophrenia) [17] at eleven psychiatric university hospitals and three psychiatric district hospitals in the region surrounding Munich. All patients admitted to one of the above-mentioned hospitals between January 2001 and December 2004 with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV criteria were selected for inclusion.…”

Course Typologies, Treatment Principles, and Research Concepts

“…The European and North-American landmark studies on course and outcome need to be repeated expanding them into the prodromal phase, controlling for treatment and applying modern neurobiological techniques. Because of the necessary subject numbers and the broad competence needed, national and international networking seems most promising [48]. Methodological requirements concerning patient/illness characteristics and sampling procedure, design characteristics, selection and measurement of research specific variables, and statistics have to be taken into account [12].…”