Multivariate analysis of prefrontal cortical data from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Consortium

Prefrontal cortical tissue from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Conso rtium, which contains samples from patients with schizophrenia, bipolar dis order, non-psychotic depression, and normal controls (n = 15 per group), wa s studied in a blinded fashion in 14 different laboratories between 1997 an d 2000. The results of 69 separate data sets were analyzed with univariate and multivariate techniques. A total of 17 abnormal markers were identified that pertained to a variety of neural systems and processes, including neu ronal plasticity, neurotransmission, signal transduction, inhibitory intern euron function, and glial cells. Schizophrenia was associated with the larg est number of abnormalities, many of which were also present in bipolar dis order. Major depression was associated with relatively few abnormalities. T he majority of abnormal findings represented a decline in function and coul d not be easily explained by exposure to psychotropic or illicit drugs. It is argued that the abnormal findings are not simply due to stochastic proce sses but represent viable markers for independent replication and further s tudy as candidate genes or targets for new treatments. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience Inc.