Understanding the long-term effects of untreated schizophrenia

Longitudinal trajectories in treated and untreated schizophrenia

NIH-funded research New York University · NIH-10690689

This study is looking at how living with untreated schizophrenia for a long time affects people from rural China, especially those who have had symptoms for over 30 years, to help understand the benefits of starting treatment later in life.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10690689 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the long-term course of untreated schizophrenia in individuals from rural areas of China, focusing on those who have experienced psychosis for over 30 years. By comparing cognitive performance and other symptoms between untreated individuals, those who have started treatment, and healthy controls, the study aims to uncover the neurobiological impacts of prolonged untreated psychosis. The research will follow 1,200 participants over three years to gather comprehensive data on their cognitive and functional outcomes. This unique approach seeks to provide insights into the effects of initiating treatment in late adulthood.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with schizophrenia who have not received treatment for over 30 years and are from rural areas of China.

Not a fit: Patients who have received treatment for their schizophrenia or those with a shorter duration of untreated psychosis may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for individuals with long-term untreated schizophrenia, enhancing their cognitive and functional outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While studies on untreated psychosis exist, this research is novel in its focus on individuals with extremely long durations of untreated psychosis in rural populations.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.