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Background and objectives The etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) is not yet known, but the genetic factor has an essential role. Its heritability is estimated up to 85 percent. This study aimed to determine whether the selected brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) gene variant (rs6265) is associated with SCZ, its psychopathology and intelligence quotient (IQ). Methods Rs6265 was genotyped in 159 participants, including 71 unrelated patients with SCZ (males = 40 [56%]) and 88 healthy controls (males = 35 [40%]). Psychopathology assessment was done by using positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS), and IQ was measured by Wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS). COCAPHASE and CLUMP22 softwares were used to compare allele and genotype frequencies respectively. Two-way multivariate ANOVA was done using SPSS22 to evaluate the effects of the group (patients and healthy control) and the genotype on the test scores, including PANSS and WAIS scores, considering sex and smoking status as covariates. Results The study showed that the BDNF rs6265 C allele and CC genotypes, psychopathology, including PANSS scores, and also IQ were significantly different in all, male and female patients compared to healthy participants. For rs6265, we found significantly higher frequencies of the C allele (P = 0.04) in all participants with SCZ. The findings also revealed that BDNF polymorphism (rs6265) increased significantly the risk of SCZ in different genetic models. Conclusion The results showed that the BDNF rs6265 may be associated with the risk of SCZ development in an Iranian group of patients with SCZ. These results may be helpful in better understanding the role of the BDNF gene in the pathogenesis of the disorder.

Background and objectives This study aimed to determine whether the selected neuregulin1 (NRG1) gene variants (rs2439272 and rs6988339) are associated with schizophrenia, and Cognitive Impairments Associated with Schizophrenia (CIAS). Methods Participants with schizophrenia (N = 276) and healthy controls (N = 193) were enrolled. Cognitive assessment using the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) and Wechsler adult intelligence scale and genotyping for selected variants of NRG1 were performed. Results For both the rs2439272 and rs6988339, compared to healthy controls, we found significant higher frequencies of the G allele and the GG genotype in all and male participants with schizophrenia, and with all Wechsler adult intelligence score (WAIS) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) scores (except for non-perseverative score) in all, male and female participants. Conclusions There was an association between rs2439272, rs6988339 of NRG1 variants and schizophrenia and CIAS (intelligence and executive functions).